MARKETLINC TO OPEN CALL CENTRE IN SASKATCHEWAN

Released on June 16, 1997

Deputy Premier and Economic and Co-operative Development Minister

Dwain Lingenfelter today announced MarketLinc Telecommunications Corp.

of Burnaby, B.C., will establish a telephone call centre in Saskatoon

that will mean up to 100 new jobs in the city.



"This a great boost for Saskatoon's economy and another sign of the

job growth we're seeing in our province, as evidenced by the numbers

recently released by Statistics Canada," Lingenfelter said.



Approximately 75 per cent of the jobs at MarketLinc's Saskatoon Call

Centre will be full time. Employees will handle calls from across

North America, serving a wide range of industries including automobile

associations, banks and software companies.



"We're excited to be expanding our call centre business from B.C. to

Saskatoon," Don Simpson, President of MarketLinc said. "It's an

attractive location for us for many reasons, especially because of the

availability of employees and the strong work ethic of Saskatchewan

people."



Saskatchewan will provide MarketLinc with $5,000 for training and

recruitment for each full-time-equivalent position, to a maximum of

100 positions. Those positions must be maintained for at least five

years. Any funding MarketLinc receives under Future Skills, or other

provincial training programs, will reduce the amount the company

receives through this agreement.



"Today's announcement is further proof of how SaskTel's advanced

all-digital network, as well as our reputation for developing

innovative and cost-efficient solutions, has resulted in

significant call centre growth in our province," Carol Teichrob,

Minister responsible for SaskTel said. SaskTel has assisted in

the establishment of 68 call centres in the province.



"Our economic development strategy, Partnership for Growth,

identifies information technology, including call centres, as a

sector with tremendous growth potential," Lingenfelter said.



Simpson says his firm is in the process of negotiating a lease on

a building in Saskatoon. MarketLinc plans to begin recruiting

staff over the summer. It hopes to be in operation by October 1,

1997.



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For more information, contact:



Debbie Wilkie

Economic and Co-operative Development

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-1691



Tim Kydd

SaskTel

Regina

Phone: (306) 777-5638



Don Simpson, President

MarketLinc Telecommunications

Burnaby, BC

Phone: (604) 257-4613



Murray Pratt, Sales Manager

MarketLinc Telecommunications

Burnaby, BC

Phone: (604) 257-4644