Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) has announced that it is increasing its annual funding support for the non-profit Students Against Drinking and Driving (SADD).

The Crown corporation will provide $85,000 in new annual funding to SADD Saskatchewan; the funds will be used by SADD to develop a new position specializing in school and community outreach and is responsible for starting new chapters in schools across the province. The funding will also be used to support existing chapters in Saskatchewan in the creation of new initiatives.

“I’m pleased to see SGI provide additional support for SADD’s work to develop student leaders dedicated to stopping impaired driving,” said SGI minister Don Morgan. “Involving young people in the work of promoting safe driving behaviours is essential to changing the culture of impaired driving in Saskatchewan.”

“Like many organizations, the COVID-19 pandemic hit us hard, with many chapters unable to operate,” said SADD Saskatchewan past-president Meaghann White. “With this funding, we hope to restore lapsed chapters and expand into new schools and First Nations communities. I would like to express our thanks and gratitude to Minister Morgan and SGI.”

Citing provincial data, SGI noted that despite substantial improvements over the past decade, impaired driving is still the leading cause of collision fatalities in Saskatchewan. Notably, the 19-24 age group has the largest proportion of impaired drivers based on collision data.

Recently, SGI also announced that it was funding new scholarship and sponsorship programs in honour of Harold Johnson, a celebrated author and community advocate. It was Johnson who laid the groundwork for the Northern Alcohol Strategy – an initiative that SGI fully supports to this day.