REGINA, Sask. — The RM of Sherwood will hold a special council meeting Wednesday morning focused on Bell's proposed expansion of its AI data centre project.
The meeting begins at 9 a.m. via Microsoft Teams online and comes as opposition to the development grows among nearby residents and Indigenous leaders.
Bell announced in September that it could add up to 900 megawatts to the 300-megawatt facility already approved for the RM, creating a potential 1.2-gigawatt AI infrastructure hub.
The original project was announced in March with a $1.7-billion construction price tag. Bell says the first data hall remains on track for the first half of 2027, with more than 500 workers already involved at the site.
The expansion would require additional land-use approvals from the RM, including changes involving surrounding agricultural land.
The proposal has already sparked protests. A Sept. 23 RM council meeting was disrupted after protesters entered the meeting and chanted "people over profit," prompting council to leave and end the meeting.
Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation has also raised concerns. In an Oct. 2 letter, Chief Roger Redman called for documents related to the project so the First Nation can conduct an independent assessment of potential environmental and cultural impacts.
Wednesday's meeting puts those competing concerns directly before municipal council, with Bell's plans for one of Canada's largest AI infrastructure projects moving forward while questions remain about land use, environmental impacts and Indigenous consultation.
