MEADOW LAKE SGI CLAIMS CENTRE EXPANSION

Released on May 12, 1999

Deputy Premier and Crown Investments Corporation Minister Dwain

Lingenfelter today announced that SGI is expanding its Meadow Lake

claims centre.



A 1,500-square-foot addition will be built on to the north side of the

building, located at 313 3rd Street East. The existing garage will be

converted to office space and a new garage area will be built.



"The addition will make it possible for driver testing to be relocated

from leased premises at the provincial Court House, to the main

building," Lingenfelter said. "The added space in the claims centre

will mean that all SGI services will be consolidated at one location

in Meadow Lake, enhancing customer service."



SGI expanded its service into the Meadow Lake community in 1978,

initially working out of a trailer. The existing SGI claims centre

was built in 1985. In the years following, the facility has become

overcrowded as SGI has expanded its services.



The expansion is also a response to an increased number of claims

being handled by the centre," Lingenfelter said. "On average,

2,500 3,000 claims are handled each year out of the Meadow Lake SGI

claims centre."



Construction on the project will begin in the last week of May,

with an expected date of completion in the Fall of 1999. The

project is expected to cost $350,000 and generate 6,000

person-hours of work.



Meadow Lake's SGI claims centre is responsible for the largest

claims region in the province which stretches north to La Loche,

west to the Alberta border and east to a point half way between

Green Lake and Big River.



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For more information, contact:

Julianne Jack

SGI Communications

Regina

Phone: (306) 775-6907