This article examines the massive cost overruns and technical failures of a federal IT project led by Deloitte to modernize how government benefits are paid out. Conservative and Bloc Québécois MPs have forced an "emergency meeting" of a parliamentary committee to question the minister in charge, Patty Hajdu. The move comes after the estimated cost of the Cúram project skyrocketed from $1.75 billion to $6.6 billion.

Reports from La Presse reveal that Deloitte's initial contract of $194 million has already doubled to $388 million following some 20 amendments, though the federal government has not explained why. Additionally, union reports and personal testimonies point to deeper issues, including poor training, incomplete paperwork, and payment delays that are currently affecting seniors.

The system is built on IBM's Cúram software, under a $117 million contract authorized by Ottawa. Other tech firms have also received significant taxpayer funding for their roles in launching the platform: Accenture holds a $174 million contract, while CGI and Fujitsu were awarded $62 million and $44 million, respectively, for integration and rollout services.