Some Regina city councillors are now joining the call for answers from the provincial government on the AI data centre expansion. Ward 5 Coun. Sarah Turnbull published a motion demanding reports and accountability on the proposed quadrupling of the capacity at the centre. The now necessary addition of natural gas power generation proves a much larger question on environmental impacts that were not considered for the original 300-megawatt site. “So, this entails basically, asking for the information, asking for it to happen in front of us and for us, and letting us make some decisions, because yes it’s not the City of Regina but its seven kilometres away from Regina and it will affect us if it’s not done properly,” she explained. Three other city councillors have signed onto the motion, which has been added to the agenda of Wednesday’s city council meeting. On Tuesday, the Saskatchewan NDP called for a moratorium on hyperscale AI data centres. A petition introduced by the NDP has reached over 3,900 individual signatures as of Friday morning. It’s the latest in calls for the public to be informed on the goings on in the project, calls that NDP MLA Sally Housser says are being dismissed. “The arrogance and disrespect we are seeing being shown to the people of Saskatchewan by Premier Moe and his minister Jeremy Harrison. They’ve said a blanket ‘No’ to talking to the people of Saskatchewan having any further consultation on the development of AI data centres,’ she said. NDP Leader Carla Beck stated on Tuesday that such large changes should not go ahead without proper public consultation and environmental study. It’s a sentiment that is shared by Housser, who said we need to stop doing everything backwards. “Frankly, of making the decision and maybe we’ll just work out the logistics later. There are mid-sized condo developments that have faced more scrutiny than the development of the AI data centre,” she said. In a statement to CTV News, Minister of Crown Investments Corporation Jeremy Harrison said the NDP is demanding far worse. “The immediate killing of thousands of jobs, billions of investment, a new head office in Regina, and a nationally important project that will benefit the people of Saskatchewan and the country,” his statement read. Harrison also said key stakeholders have spoken out in support of this project, including Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski, the Saskatchewan and Regina Chambers of Commerce, IBEW, United Association Local 179, Saskatchewan Building Trades Union and others. “This Premier and this government will continue to work hard to attract generational projects so that we can continue to invest in our communities, hospitals, and schools. That’s how we keep Saskatchewan strong and steady,” his statement read, referring to it the AI data centre project one of national significance for the future of Canada’s sovereign AI and data security future. Bell’s first data hall is projected to be operational in the first half of 2027. The expansion, including the proposed extra 900-megawatts and the natural gas power station required for that expansion, currently have no public timetable. CTV News, CP24 and BNN Bloomberg are divisions of Bell Media, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of BCE Inc.
