Bell Quadruples Saskatchewan AI Data Centre Plan to 1.2 Gigawatts

Bell Canada has announced it will quadruple the size of its planned data centre project in Saskatchewan, a decision that significantly increases the facility's power capacity to 1.2 gigawatts. The expansion was revealed at Canada's first investment summit, where officials described it as the largest capital investment in the province's history.

Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that the project is expected to attract more than $50 billion in capital, positioning it as a cornerstone of Canada's sovereign AI infrastructure. The announcement underscores a strategic shift toward building domestic capacity for artificial intelligence, with construction already in progress for the initial phases of the facility.

Construction begins before full scale

Mirko Bibic, CEO of Bell, confirmed that work on the original 300 megawatt facility is already underway, with structural frames erected for three buildings and foundations being poured for a fourth. The company is currently developing the necessary power and cooling infrastructure to support the expanded capacity, moving beyond the initial announcement made earlier this year.

The expansion strategy relies heavily on Saskatchewan's Bring Your Own Power principle, which allows developers to source additional energy outside the provincial grid. While 300 megawatts will be drawn from the local grid, Bell plans to generate up to 900 megawatts of additional capacity through independent sources, a model that reduces strain on public utilities but requires significant private investment in generation infrastructure.

Economic impact and job creation

The project is projected to create up to 500 permanent jobs, alongside an estimated 3,000 additional positions in sectors such as security, logistics, and maintenance. These figures represent a substantial contribution to the local labor market, though the bulk of the role will be filled by contract workers during the construction and operational phases rather than permanent staff.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe emphasized that the investment supports data sovereignty, ensuring that sensitive personal and commercial information remains stored within Canada. He argued that building domestic infrastructure is a necessary choice to prevent reliance on foreign jurisdictions for data storage and processing.

Context for national AI capacity

This expansion places Bell's facility among the largest in North America, rivaling recent announcements by other tech giants. For context, Meta recently announced a 1-gigawatt data center in Alberta, indicating a broader trend of massive infrastructure commitments across the country. Canada currently has approximately 337 megawatts of AI data centre capacity, but projects under planning or development account for over 20 gigawatts.

Federal officials are working with global tech companies to develop additional capacity, aiming for hundreds of billions in further investment. However, these projects must align with municipal partnerships and specific value standards, highlighting a regulatory framework that seeks to balance rapid technological growth with local community interests and environmental considerations.