REGINA, Sask. — Bell Canada's proposed expansion of its AI data centre campus south of Regina faced strong opposition during a lengthy Rural Municipality of Sherwood public hearing, with residents and First Nations representatives challenging the project's consultation process, environmental safeguards and potential long-term impacts.
The hearing Thursday focused on two bylaws that would rezone approximately 895 acres of agricultural land to light industrial use and amend the RM's Official Community Plan to accommodate the expansion.
The proposal could allow up to nine additional data centre buildings, with construction potentially beginning in stages as early as 2027, depending on approvals and demand.
Bell representatives defended the project as a major economic opportunity, projecting more than 1,200 construction jobs, between 280 and 500 permanent operations positions and up to $8 million in annual property tax revenue for the RM when fully developed.
But speakers questioned whether those benefits justified the scale of the project and whether surrounding communities had been adequately consulted.
Bell outlines its plans
Bell AI Fabric chief operating officer Jay Reichel described the development as an opportunity for Saskatchewan to help build Canada's artificial intelligence infrastructure.
"What Canada needs now is sovereign AI infrastructure," Reichel told council.
Bell president Dan Rink said the company had opened a Regina information centre, sent letters to RM residents and continued discussions with neighbouring landowners.
"We opened an information centre in Regina staffed every business day since October 14," Rink said. "We sent every resident of the RM a letter with information and direct contact details. And we kept meeting with and listening to the neighbouring landowners."
Rink said the company was not seeking public subsidies.
"We have requested no subsidy from the province or any municipality across the full campus," he said.
Bell also said portions of the expansion land not immediately needed for construction could remain in agricultural production through leaseback arrangements.
Questions about water, power and the environment
Residents raised concerns about the project's potential demands on water and electricity, as well as its environmental effects.
Rink said Bell was considering on-site fuel cells or an off-site power plant to supply electricity, rather than relying on the Saskatchewan grid.
"The expansion would make its own power off the Saskatchewan grid at no cost to ratepayers," he said.
He said the options would still require provincial approvals and environmental assessment.
On water, Rink described the cooling system as a sealed, closed loop that would be filled once and recirculate water without routinely drawing from municipal supplies or groundwater.
"The water system is a sealed closed system filled once," he said. "No municipal water is used for cooling and no wells and we do not interface with any aquifer."
Municipal water would instead be used for drinking water and fire protection. Bell said domestic wastewater would be collected in holding tanks and transported to an approved facility in Regina, while stormwater would be stored on-site and released at controlled rates. However, Regina city council previously declined to provide wastewater services to the development, citing the need to preserve capacity for future growth within city boundaries. It remains unclear whether the city's decision would affect Bell's proposed wastewater disposal arrangements.
The company's engineer outlined proposed road improvements, including upgrades to Fleet Street between the bypass and Old 16 Road, and Old 16 Road between Fleet Street and Park Street. Bell said it would pay for access improvements required for the project.
The company said environmental and technical work, including groundwater, noise, lighting and geotechnical studies, remained underway.
First Nations speakers challenge consultation
Indigenous consultation and Treaty rights were among the most contentious issues raised during the hearing.
Jade Adrian, a member of George Gordon First Nation, questioned why community members had not been more involved in decisions about the project.
"I am not sure how we are sitting here today," Adrian said. "The agreement went through too long and none of the members were consulted about the data centre."
She also questioned who would benefit from the development.
"We talk about prosperity. I don't see who prospers," Adrian said. "Definitely not George Gordon First Nation. Definitely not the residents who will be living near the data centres. Definitely not the land or the animals."
Another First Nations woman, who attended with her two sons, said she had tried to attend previous meetings but had not been given an opportunity to speak.
"I've waited outside for almost three hours with my sons just to sit here and speak to you today," she told council.
She challenged the idea that Bell's relationship with one First Nation represented the views of other Treaty communities.
"They cannot make decisions for us, and neither can you," she said.
A representative identifying himself as Headman Bear from Ochapowace Nation also questioned whether the duty to consult had been fulfilled.
"The duty to consult has not been properly carried out by all parties, including the provincial government," he said.
He called for a longer-term perspective on the development.
"We're not looking for five years ahead," he said. "We're looking for 50 years ahead. What's going to happen to our children?"
Regina residents and landowners weigh in
Allison Ozog, a Harbour Landing resident, criticized what she described as limited public consultation.
"I think the most disappointing part of this is that most of it has been done behind closed doors with incredibly limited public consultation," Ozog said.
She called for more information about potential effects on air quality, water, noise and wildlife, pointing to Regina city council's request for further assessment of those impacts.
Regina Coun. Shanon Zachidniak also attended and said the effects could extend beyond the RM.
"We share air, we share water, we do all sorts of things," Zachidniak said.
She said important questions, including those involving emissions, remained unanswered.
Not all neighbouring landowners opposed the proposal. Rod Cowie said his family would not necessarily have chosen to have a data centre built next door, but saw an opportunity to work with Bell.
"I'll be honest, having a large data centre developed on the land beside us isn't necessarily something my family and I would have chosen," Cowie said. "However, I recognize that development brings opportunity and I believe there's a real benefit in working together to make the most of it."
Cowie asked about connecting to a proposed drinking-water line, road upgrades and regional drainage planning.
Another adjacent landowner, Kyle Cedar, asked whether commitments made during the first phase would continue if the expansion proceeded, particularly water testing for neighbouring properties.
Rink said Bell would continue its testing commitments and would not use existing wells on the expansion property.
"We're committed to continuing to do that," Rink said. "We're not going to be using the wells that are on site. They will be capped."
Resident outside hearing criticizes process
Opposition was also evident outside the meeting, where Regina resident Nicholas Fuzesy told SaskToday he believed corporate interests were taking priority over local decision-making.
"I think this is a pure example of corporations trumping over, you know, local politics. I think even provincial politics," Fuzesy said.
He questioned whether residents had been given a meaningful opportunity to participate, pointing to people waiting outside and limited seating inside.
"They should do as much as they can to ensure that as many people as possible should be able to sit in the room," he said.
Fuzesy said he was skeptical that hearing more public opposition would change the outcome.
"I don't think they would change their minds at all," he said. "But I think it's made it clear to these people that what they're doing is not okay."
He argued that decisions driven primarily by corporate profit could come at the expense of residents.
"When you're only prioritizing profit incentives, and you're only prioritizing big corporations, big CEOs, politicians, where do the people go?"
"They go outside. They go in the cold."
Council considers proposed bylaws
Bell said construction on the expansion would not begin until the necessary approvals were in place and a commercial tenant agreement had been reached. Rink reiterated the company's commitment to being a responsible neighbour.
"Every time we've been before you, we've told you that we would be a responsible long-term neighbour," he said. "That commitment remains and will be accountable to council and the residents."
Following the hearing, council began deliberations on the two proposed bylaws. Administration also discussed the collaborative planning area shared with Regina, noting that changes would require amendments to both municipalities' Official Community Plans and another notification process.
At the time of reporting, council was deliberating on the bylaws, and a final vote had not been confirmed.
