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

Saskatchewan’s Crown investments minister unveiled Thursday progress on Bell Canada’s AI data centre, a $1.7-billion, 300-megawatt facility situated 65 hectares southeast of Regina. Minister Jeremy Harrison touted the site, pointing to "literally millions of pounds of steel" behind them. Construction has completed framing for three of four data halls, with paneling for one wall nearing completion. Surrounding the structures are trailers, steel pipes, and dirt piles, with security cameras monitoring activities.

Harrison stated 500 workers are present at any given time. The project is set to be one of Canada’s largest data facilities. Bell’s group president, John Watson, revealed the first two halls will begin operations in the first half of next year. The anchor tenants are CoreWeave and Cerebras. Bell aims to expand the facility to 1.2 gigawatts, valued at $50 billion and requiring a dedicated natural gas plant. No timeline was provided for the expansion.

The expansion promises bigger economic benefits, potentially creating 500 permanent jobs at the site and up to 3,000 off-site and community jobs. Bell would also shift its AI fabric headquarters to Regina, adding 100 management jobs to the city.

Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski hailed the project as a hub for innovation and growth, highlighting how it would retain talented young people and attract new workers and families. Bell plans to partner with the University of Regina for research, potentially capturing the facility’s heat for greenhouses.

Protests emerged last year, with critics raising concerns about the megaproject’s environmental impact, electricity grid, and lack of public consultation. The province was criticized for approving the project hastily. While the provincial government’s spokesperson, Harrison, claimed broad support exists, the Opposition NDP’s energy critic, Sally Housser, urged the government to hold town hall meetings.

Watson assured the data centre won’t use groundwater, employing a closed-loop cooling system instead. Bell also pledged the facility won’t increase power rates.