Bell plans expansion of Sask. AI data centre, making it largest private investment in province's history

Bell plans expansion of Sask. AI data centre, making it largest private investment in province's history

Bell Canada announced quadrupling of project near Regina at investment summit in Toronto

Bell Canada announced plans Monday to quadruple the size of a planned AI data centre near Regina, a move that would make it the largest private capital investment in Saskatchewan history.

At an investment summit in Toronto hosted by Prime Minister Mark Carney, Bell Canada CEO Mirko Bibic announced the controversial data centre will be expanded from the original 300-megawatt facility to one that would eventually need 1.2 gigawatts of power.

To achieve the expansion, the telecommunications giant would increase its investment in the so-called Bell AI Fabric to $52 billion.

With Premier Scott Moe standing next to him, Bibic offered praise to the Saskatchewan Party government for creating the investment environment in the province.

"I was asked three specific times in the last day and a half, 'Why did you choose Saskatchewan?'" Bibic told the crowd. "For me the answer was simple: it's because Saskatchewan is a great place to invest."

Moe compared the data centre to the construction of the railway across Canada to protect the nation's sovereignty. He stressed the need to protect the data of Canadians.

"Today, the infrastructure has changed, but the purpose has not," Moe said. "That same nation-building purpose calls for a new kind of infrastructure, infrastructure that protects our data and secures our sovereignty."

A news release from the province says the expansion could create as many as 500 permanent jobs, including about 100 management positions, and another 3,000 jobs in areas like security and maintenance.

Carney called the investment a "fantastic example" of the type of project his government is trying to facilitate.

The announcement was attended by former prime ministers Jean Chretien and Stephen Harper, who joined Bibic and Moe on stage for photos.

The provincial government did not immediately reply to a question about whether the expansion would require further approval from the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, where the data centre is located.

The RM and Reeve Ray Orb also did not immediately reply to a message seeking their comment on the expansion.

The RM approved the data centre in April after the province appointed four new council members following resignations. About 100 protesters gathered outside the RM office as the mostly appointed council approved the centre.

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Bibic said he met with Moe and Minister Jeremy Harrison in July to discuss an expansion of the project. The news release says Bell Canada must supply its own power for the expansion, as it had to for the original project.

The two-day summit in Toronto is aimed at attracting $1 trillion in investment amid a turbulent trade war with the United States.

Phil Tank is an award-winning journalist based in Saskatoon. He can be reached at phil.tank@cbc.ca.