Bell Canada has revealed plans to expand its AI data center near Regina, making it the largest private investment ever seen in Saskatchewan. The expansion, announced by Bell Canada CEO Mirko Bibic at an investment summit in Toronto with Prime Minister Mark Carney, will increase the facility’s capacity from 300 megawatts to 1.2 gigawatts, requiring an investment of $52 billion in the Bell AI Fabric.
Acknowledging Saskatchewan as an attractive investment destination, Bibic credited the Saskatchewan Party government for fostering a conducive investment environment. Premier Scott Moe likened the data center’s significance to the historical Canadian railway construction, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding data and sovereignty in the modern infrastructure landscape.
The expansion is anticipated to generate around 500 permanent jobs, including 100 managerial roles, along with an additional 3,000 jobs in security and maintenance sectors, as per a provincial news release. Former Prime Ministers Jean Chretien and Stephen Harper were present at the announcement event alongside Bibic and Moe.
While the government lauded the project, the Opposition NDP criticized the lack of public consultation on the expansion. NDP’s technology, innovation, and AI critic Brittney Senger raised concerns about power sourcing and water consumption for the expanded facility.
Questions regarding project approval were redirected to Bell Canada and the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, where the data center is situated. The RM and Reeve Ray Orb did not respond immediately to inquiries about the expansion. Approval for the data center was granted by the RM in April after the appointment of new council members.
Bell Canada confirmed that discussions with Premier Moe and Minister Jeremy Harrison in July laid the groundwork for the expansion. The company is responsible for providing its own power for the expanded project, similar to the original setup. The expansion announcement coincided with a two-day investment summit in Toronto aimed at attracting significant investments amidst trade uncertainties.
The ongoing development has sparked conversations in Saskatchewan, inviting public engagement and perspectives on the substantial investment in the AI data center expansion.