REGINA — Confusion and anger boiled over outside the RM of Sherwood’s municipal office as protesters of a planned AI data centre were left in the dark.
Inside its chambers, the RM of Sherwood unanimously approved entering into a development agreement with Bell Canada during its council meeting on Monday. This decision came as 100-plus protesters weren’t let in, and the meeting's online stream faced audio issues.
“This was supposed to be a public meeting. This meeting was supposed to be for us, for the people who this issue is going to directly affect. And the fact that people weren't able to speak, people were being ejected for naturally showing that they were upset and not being allowed to speak,” said Koby Schwab, a concerned citizen.
According to a recording of the meeting, several delegates had tried to make a presentation, but the RM said the meeting item had already been amended.
One delegate had asked the RM for 10 minutes of her time, but councillors voted against moving the motion on the floor.
“This meeting is corrupt, you are all corrupt,” said the delegate before she was escorted out by security.
Janna Pratt, a member of the George Gordon First Nation, was also unable to present her delegation during the meeting.
Pratt said she attended because the duty to consult had not been fulfilled by George Gordon First Nation, who are the developers of the data centre.
“Why are we rushing into this partnership without consulting our membership on our future, like on our own stuff that we are on these lands, particularly because having an AI data centre across the street greatly affects our lands?”
In 2019, the First Nation purchased over 230 hectares of land near Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the University of Regina.
The land had been purchased through the Treaty Land Entitlement process.
“These lands were meant to be used for our nation, our nation's children and grandchildren and so on,” said Pratt.
A lack of consultation has caused a petition online calling for a referendum on the data centre project.
Concerns addressed?
The development agreement between the RM of Sherwood and Bell is subject to 16 conditions.
Notable conditions include Bell submitting a grading and drainage plan sealed by a Saskatchewan-licensed professional engineer, completing pre- and post-project acoustic assessments to ensure noise levels do not exceed 70 dB, maintaining stormwater runoff at or below pre-development levels, and providing record drawings to confirm the site was constructed in compliance with all requirements.
President of Bell AI Fabric, Dan Rink, said the development agreement holds the company accountable for concerns raised over environmental impacts.
“It holds us accountable to them [the RM of Sherwood] so the development services agreement goes through item by community concerns and ensures that there's a way to measure and address.”
During the meeting, Ray Orb, interim reeve of the RM of Sherwood, said delegates raised two key concerns: water testing and acoustic levels testing.
“Bell shared with local residents that these [tests] would happen.”
Orb and three other councillors had been newly appointed by the Government of Saskatchewan, a potential conflict of interest raised by protestors.
In a scenario where Bell doesn’t meet its obligation, clauses in the development agreement can permit action to be taken.
One clause states Bell’s permit could be suspended if it fails to address identified off-site impacts.
Additionally, any disputes between the RM of Sherwood and Bell could also result in arbitration proceedings.
Overall, Orb said he feels everyone was thoroughly checked out, and the RM is confident in its decision.
What happens now
Before starting development, Rink said Bell has committed to extra testing of the site.
“We have test wells going in and some ground testing as a part of our ongoing work. We're testing the depth of pilings to ensure that we won't penetrate the aquifer.”
Once testing is completed, Rink said construction will proceed shortly after.
Rink affirmed Bell is committed to continuing community dialogue as the project begins ramping up.
On the RM’s side, Orb said the municipality is looking at communication programs to get more information out to the public.
“I think that's important [that] we get that message out there. This is a positive project.”
Schwab said this outcome may require an investigation into the RM of Sherwood.
“I think that there is a very strong ombudsman complaint that can be filed against this council.”
He added, “[This] is pathetic and I think that it's nakedly anti-democratic.”
Bell intends to finish the first stage of the AI data centre by mid-2027.
