Regina residents against AI data centre start letter writing campaign

A proposed AI data centre in Regina is drawing criticism, with citizens questioning impacts on resources and privacy.

Regina residents against Canada’s largest purpose-built Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centre took part in a letter writing campaign on Saturday, one of several in person events to push back against construction.

Concerned citizens feel as though there has been a lack of transparency from Bell Canada, the company which will own the centre. They’re also concerned about water and power safety, along with data safety.

“There are still many things that are unanswered regarding this,” said Jay-Jay Bigsky, a concerned citizen, and organizer of the letter distribution. “We’re speaking, we’re gathering. But it feels like we’re not being heard.”

Along with fellow citizens, Bigsky says they’ve been calling and writing emails to get the word out about the centre. The group also created a petition in mid-February, which has just under 1,900 signatures as of Saturday afternoon.

The 300-megawatt project will have phase one built in the rural municipality of Sherwood at the end of the year, near Regina. This phase will incorporate the first 200 megawatts.

The second phase of the project will be in late 2027, including the construction of the last 100 megawatts.

Though the construction of this project was revealed in mid-February, Bell CEO Mirko Bibic officially announced the plans for the centre on March 16 in Regina.

Saskatchewan’s Minister of Crown Investments Corporation Jeremy Harrison said that the province is ready for the challenge.

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“We are really in a unique position to actually [be able to] allocate power for projects, whether it be uranium mines ... or whether it be a new potash mine, whether it be a copper mine, we are in that unique position to be able to partner with Bell on a project like this,” Harrison said at the official announcement.

Bigsky said a data centre in the province is going to be harmful, no matter where it is placed. With the rise of AI usage across the globe, Bigsky describes it as “the new tech craze”.

“We came and passed through NFTs and passed through bitcoins,” he said. “This is just the latest trend of a very grubby money making scheme that has put many communities at risk, many people at risk. It is not part of the community; it is not of the people. It is of the ruling minority, against the working majority.”

The provincial government says the new centre is expected to create more than 800 jobs during construction and at least 80 full-time on-site positions once completed.

The group is expected to protest on April 18 outside of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building.