Bell Canada has revealed plans to increase the size of a planned AI data center near Regina, making it the largest private investment in Saskatchewan’s history. The expansion would see the facility grow from 300 megawatts to 1.2 gigawatts, requiring a total investment of $52 billion in the Bell AI Fabric.
CEO Mirko Bibic made the announcement at an investment summit in Toronto alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney. Praising the Saskatchewan Party government for creating an attractive investment environment, Bibic highlighted the province’s appeal for investment.
Premier Scott Moe likened the data center expansion to the construction of the Canadian railway, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding Canadian data and sovereignty. The province anticipates the expansion could generate 500 permanent jobs, including management roles, as well as 3,000 jobs in security and maintenance.
Former prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Stephen Harper were present at the announcement, which drew criticism from the opposition NDP for lack of public consultation. NDP’s technology critic, Brittney Senger, raised concerns about power supply and water usage for the expanded project.
Further approval details for the project were directed to Bell Canada and the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, where the data center is located. The RM council previously approved the data center after the province appointed new council members due to resignations, despite protests from some residents.
Bell Canada indicated that they had discussions with Premier Moe and Minister Jeremy Harrison regarding the project’s expansion. The company is responsible for supplying its own power for both the original and expanded project. The investment summit in Toronto aims to attract significant investments amidst ongoing trade tensions with the United States.