Construction of Bell Canada’s AI data centre in Saskatchewan scaling up

Saskatchewan’s Crown investments minister Jeremy Harrison stood in front of a steel beam framework to announce progress on Bell Canada’s AI data centre project. The $1.7-billion, 300-megawatt facility, one of the country’s largest, is expected to be a significant economic driver.

Harrison and Bell Canada held a news conference at the 65-hectare site, where construction crews were moving heavy equipment and framing for three of four data halls. Paneling for one wall was nearing completion. Surrounding the structures were trailers, steel pipes, and piles of dirt. Security cameras monitored the site.

The first two halls are set to start operating in the first half of next year, with anchor tenants CoreWeave and Cerebras. Bell plans to quadruple the facility’s size to 1.2 gigawatts, costing $50 billion and requiring a dedicated natural gas plant. Watson said the expansion would happen in proximity to the current site.

The data centre could support 500 permanent jobs at the site and up to 3,000 off-site and community jobs. Bell would also move its AI fabric headquarters to Regina, creating 100 management jobs. The project is expected to generate even more economic benefits for the province.

Critics have raised concerns about the environmental impact and potential effects on the electricity grid. The Opposition NDP has called for a moratorium on large-scale data centres, arguing for robust consultation. However, Harrison noted that people already support the project, reflecting the broad support in the community.