What happened
The Rural Municipality of Sherwood has unanimously approved two bylaws allowing Bell Canada to move ahead with plans for a major expansion of its artificial intelligence data centre south of Regina. The expansion could add up to nine data centre buildings, bringing the planned campus to a total capacity of approximately 1.2 gigawatts. Bell has said construction could begin in phases as early as 2027, depending on market demand and further approvals.
The Rural Municipality of Sherwood has unanimously approved two bylaws allowing Bell Canada to move ahead with plans for a major expansion of its artificial intelligence data centre south of Regina.
The expansion could add up to nine data centre buildings, bringing the planned campus to a total capacity of approximately 1.2 gigawatts.
Bell has said construction could begin in phases as early as 2027, depending on market demand and further approvals.
The vote followed a lengthy public hearing where residents and First Nations representatives raised concerns about consultation, environmental impacts, and the long-term effects of the development.
Bell executives defended the project as an important investment in Canada's AI infrastructure, pointing to projected economic benefits.
Source details: moosejawtoday.com
Why it matters
The approval of the data centre expansion is a significant development for the AI industry in Canada. The project is expected to create over 1,200 construction jobs and between 280 and 500 permanent operations positions. It will also generate up to $8 million in annual property tax revenue for the RM once the campus is fully developed. However, concerns about the project's environmental oversight, consultation, and broader impacts remain.
The approval of the data centre expansion is a significant development for the AI industry in Canada.
The project is expected to create over 1,200 construction jobs and between 280 and 500 permanent operations positions.
It will also generate up to $8 million in annual property tax revenue for the RM once the campus is fully developed.
However, concerns about the project's environmental oversight, consultation, and broader impacts remain.
The timing of the decision has also drawn political criticism, with the Saskatchewan NDP questioning why the expansion was being decided by a council largely made up of appointed members just days before the Nov. 9 municipal election.
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What to watch next
The project's environmental impact assessment and other technical work will be required before the project moves forward. The timing of the decision has also drawn political criticism, with the Saskatchewan NDP questioning why the expansion was being decided by a council largely made up of appointed members just days before the Nov. 9 municipal election.
The project's environmental impact assessment and other technical work will be required before the project moves forward.
The Saskatchewan NDP has questioned the timing of the decision and the role of appointed council members.
Concerns about the project's environmental oversight, consultation, and broader impacts remain.
Bell has said construction on the expansion will not begin until the required approvals are received and a commercial agreement with a tenant is in place.
A provincial environmental impact assessment and other technical work will also be required before the project moves forward.