Bell Canada announces major Sask. AI data centre project expansion

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Prime Minister Mark Carney also spoke.

“Throughout our (Canadian) history, we have built to secure our sovereignty, to shape our destiny and to determine our own future,” Moe said. Referencing Canadian builders, Moe said that mandate was fulfilled 150 years ago by constructing a railroad that spanned the continent.

“Today, the infrastructure has changed but the purpose has not,” Moe stated.

Nation building, he said, is calling today for a new form of infrastructure – in this case, infrastructure that will protect Saskatchewan’s and Canada’s data sovereignty. AI data centres are swiftly being built around the world, Moe noted, as essential infrastructure for the digital economy.

“More and more, the information Canadians depend on – our personal information, our financial information, commercial information – it is being stored in these centres,” Moe stated, suggesting that Canadians are faced with a choice between building the infrastructure that will keep Canadian data in the country or to leave Canada’s data sovereignty in the hands of other countries.

“In Canada and in Saskatchewan, we have made our choice,” Moe said. “We will protect what is ours.”

The expansion will see the headquarters for Bell AI Fabric established in the Regina area and create thousands of jobs, according to a statement from the province, “while positioning Saskatchewan as a national leader in artificial intelligence, data sovereignty and secure, reliable energy.”

The original 300 megawatts of power from the provincial grid for the project will be retained and a phased development of up to 900 megawatts of additional capacity is included. That capacity would be provided by Bell, “through Saskatchewan’s Bring Your Own Power principle,” the province stated.

The expansion to a 1.2 gigawatt Canadian AI infrastructure hub in Saskatchewan would create up to 500 permanent jobs associated with the data centre operations and power generation, according to the province, and about 3,000 more jobs in security, logistics and maintenance.

With the hub being the headquarters for Bell AI Fabric, about 100 management positions would also be created, the province estimated.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said during the announcement that Canadians have a tone encouraging building and control over the future, together.

“This is a fantastic example of this. It is going to deliver prosperity, it is going to keep control of the most important things in our lives,” Carney said, calling the expansion a win for Canadians and Saskatchewan.

“It is the largest sovereign AI infrastructure in Canada.”

Addressing Moe and people in Saskatchewan, Carney said the province has “fed the world, from canola to wheat to potash and beyond” and “you fuel the world.”

“Now, you’re building the frontier and with the same values.”

Crown Investments Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison said the historic $52-billion expansion is one of the largest in private-sector investments in the province’s history “and a powerful endorsement” of Saskatchewan’s economic potential.

“Bell’s decision to invest at this scale reflects confidence in Saskatchewan as a place to do business, grow and succeed. This investment will create jobs, drive economic activity and deliver long-term benefits for communities across our province,” he said, adding that projects of this size strengthen Saskatchewan as a leading destination for Canadian investment where the province is creating conditions for growth and building long-term prosperity.

The Government of Saskatchewan approved the expansion under its Data Centre Framework, which was released in August and sets out six principles for major data centre investments in the province: Canadian ownership and Canadian headquarters, data sovereignty, local jobs and partnerships, operating experience, “Bring Your Own Power” and centralized provincial intake through Crown Investments Corporation and the Ministry of Trade and Export Development.

—

by CJME

Bell Canada announces major Sask. AI data centre project expansion

What's Trending