Sherwood council approves Bell AI data centre rezoning near Regina despite protest
The rezoning clears a final regulatory hurdle for Bell's 1.2-gigawatt facility outside Regina, as the George Gordon First Nation's objections remain.
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The Rural Municipality of Sherwood's council voted Thursday to approve zoning changes that let Bell Canada expand its AI data centre project outside Regina, clearing what the company describes as the final regulatory hurdle for a 1.2-gigawatt facility.
A small group of protesters gathered outside the RM office during the vote, and police and private security were stationed at the doors, limiting the number of people allowed inside to 15. Coun. Judy Harwood said a previous council meeting had been interrupted by noise and banging on windows, and described an incident in which people entered the council chambers.
Dan Rink, president of AI infrastructure and strategy for Bell Canada, said the site is private farmland rather than George Gordon First Nation reserve land, which the First Nation has objected to. He said Bell will pay for all water the facility uses and that the centre is designed as a closed-loop system. Rink put the investment at upwards of $2 billion directly with clients, over $12 billion in the first phase, and $50 billion in the expansion.
The council that approved the project earlier this year was partly appointed by the provincial government after the reeve and three council members resigned abruptly in March. Coun. Mitch Huber said those appointments had nothing to do with the data centre.
