טכנולוגיה · AI infrastructureFirst Nations Demand Pause as Bell Plans Fourfold AI Campus Expansionנכתב 11 באוקטובר 2026 בשעה 22:32 UTCצפייהתמליל0:09Two First Nations demand Bell halt an AI campus that's already taking shape.0:14Construction is underway on the original site, and Bell proposes expanding its0:17planned capacity fourfold.0:19The nations want environmental evidence and consultation before development goes0:23further.0:24Will Bell and the governments address those requests before the campus grows?0:28Standing Buffalo First Nation is about 75 kilometers from the site, south of Regina0:32in Sherwood.0:33The nation describes the land as unceded traditional Dakota territory.0:37Carry the Kettle First Nation says limited regional water supplies and an underlying0:41aquifer need protection.0:43Standing Buffalo wants evidence about effects on land, water, air, and wildlife.0:48Its October 2 letter requested technical, environmental, and approval documents so0:52the nation could carry out its own independent assessment.0:55Standing Buffalo addressed that request to Bell President and Chief Executive Mirko0:59Bibbick.1:00The nation wants access to the information behind the project's design and approvals1:04so it can judge the consequences for itself.1:06Carry the Kettle says Bell and Saskatchewan moved ahead without notice, consent, or1:10consultation.1:11Its October 5 statement asks Bell and both governments to pause development until an1:15environmental assessment is complete and treaty-based consultation and accommodation1:19take place.1:20The provincial opposition New Democrats have also called for a pause.1:24First Nations leaders say they may go to court if Canada, Saskatchewan, and Bell1:28don't pause the project and meet with them.1:30Bell's original plan called for 300 megawatts.1:33The expansion adds up to 900 megawatts, bringing the proposed total to 1,2001:38megawatts or 1.2 gigawatts.1:41That's four times the original announced capacity at full build-out.1:44Bell announced the original project on March 16, 2026, and the expansion on1:49September 14th.1:50The enlarged plan came six months after the initial announcement.1:54Bell is describing future capacity.1:57The campus is still being built.1:59Saskatchewan's October 4th construction update said four building shells were taking2:03shape at the original 300 megawatt site.2:06That work was underway while the separate expansion proposal was still moving2:09through municipal review.2:11The expansion proposal allows up to nine additional buildings.2:14The enlarged project is also reportedly planned for as many as 15 buildings.2:19How those counts fit together is still unclear.2:21Four shells under construction don't settle the final campus count.2:24The planned buildings would spread across an area compared to eight average-sized2:28golf courses.2:29That comparison conveys scale.2:31The land proposal gives a more concrete measure of how far Bell wants the campus to2:35reach.2:35The original site covers approximately 160 acres of agricultural land.2:40Bell's conditional purchase arrangements cover another 895 acres beside it.2:45Together, that's approximately 1055 acres of proposed holdings, with the sale still2:50conditional.2:51The conditional sale agreement is under Farmland Security Board review.2:54Potential sellers include a former Reeve and the current deputy Reeve.2:58Their financial interest in the proposed sale carries no finding of wrongdoing.3:01The combined acreage also leaves the eventual developed footprint to be determined.3:05Bell says its sealed, closed-loop cooling system won't draw water from or discharge3:10water to the aquifer.3:11It says the coolant lasts more than a decade before replacement.3:14Saskatchewan describes a one-time technical fluid fill that doesn't need regular3:18refills.3:19Those assurances address water moving into and out of the cooling system.3:23The nations are also asking about construction, land disturbance, air, and wildlife3:28across a much larger campus.3:30Bell's cooling explanation alone can't resolve those broader requests.3:34The province says washrooms and kitchens would receive water through a water main3:38rather than wells.3:39It describes demand as comparable to an office of about 130 people.3:44That domestic supply is separate from the technical fluid circulating through the3:47cooling loop.3:48Saskatchewan promises to monitor groundwater against published baselines,3:52measurements used to track changes.3:54The province hasn't spelled out how monitoring would trigger corrective action.3:58Standing Buffalo wants the underlying technical and environmental documents to4:02support its own assessment.4:03A separate writer has already asked for federal review under the Impact Assessment4:07Act.4:07The request raised groundwater and fish habitat concerns.4:11Migratory birds, indigenous rights, and climate effects.4:14Those are concerns the writer wants examined.4:16The writer submitted an initial request to the Federal Assessment Agency on May 4th.4:21On May 15th, the agency advised sending the request directly to the minister with4:26copies to the agency.4:27A federal assessment decision hasn't been announced.4:30The writers said they knew of no publicly disclosed independent provincial or4:34federal assessment.4:35The nations are seeking independent environmental evidence, and no completed4:38assessment has been presented to resolve their demands.4:41Sherwood counselors unanimously passed first reading of the expansion rezoning on4:45October 7th.4:46Second and third readings still have to happen.4:48Council also approved public meetings and community engagement, and the proposal is4:52moving toward a public hearing.4:54Interim Reeve Ray Orb says the hearing will be advertised once scheduled.4:57On October 9th, he also said he didn't expect a 900-megawatt power plant at the5:02site.5:02His expectation leaves the final power supply decision open.5:05Four of Sherwood's seven council members reportedly quit the previous spring, and5:09Saskatchewan appointed interim counselors.5:11The original project was approved after those appointments.5:14Approval and construction on that original site came before the expansion's5:17unfinished rezoning process.5:19Other opponents at the municipal stage raised electricity use, psychological5:23impacts, and inadequate public consultation.5:25They also sought environmental review and First Nations consultation.5:29The construction schedule depends on more than council votes.5:31Bell expects the original facility to begin coming online in early 2027.5:36Additional building phases could start in 2027 as Bell secures customers.5:41Staged expansion could continue through 2030 and beyond, so the proposed schedule5:45remains conditional.5:46Operations were also expected by the end of 2027.5:49Those expectations describe a phased opening.5:52Bell hasn't supplied a single confirmed completion date for the enlarged campus.5:55Bell's Aquifer Assurance hasn't resolved the nation's requests for documents,5:59consultation, and environmental assessment.6:02Bell and the governments haven't announced an agreed construction pause or a6:05resolution of those requests.6:07The public hearing still has no announced date, and First Nations leaders have6:11identified court action as their possible next step.קריאת הכתבהציר הזמן של הסיפורHeyDexהסרטון הקצר ↗מי דיווח על מהנקודות שדיווח עליהן יותר מכלי תקשורת אחדCouncil advances the rezoning proposalשני כלי תקשורתNumber of additional data centre buildingsשני כלי תקשורתProposed expansion campus footprintשני כלי תקשורתProposed construction scheduleשני כלי תקשורתנקודות שדיווח עליהן רק כלי תקשורת אחד20דווח רק על ידי CTV NewsRezoning process moves to a public hearing8 באוק׳, 1:37 UTCProposed expansion capacity8 באוק׳, 1:37 UTCBell presented expansion plans at an RM of Sherwood Council meeting on Wednesday.8 באוק׳, 2:11 UTCDate of the public hearing8 באוק׳, 1:37 UTCOpponents' concerns at the RM office8 באוק׳, 1:37 UTCדווח רק על ידי Global NewsBell's announced expansion to 15 buildings10 באוק׳, 23:15 UTCStanding Buffalo calls for construction to halt10 באוק׳, 23:15 UTCBell conditionally purchases adjacent land8 באוק׳, 14:03 UTCCarry the Kettle alleges lack of consultation10 באוק׳, 23:15 UTCFirst Nations leaders warn of possible court action10 באוק׳, 23:15 UTCBell says facility does not use aquifer water10 באוק׳, 23:15 UTCData centre approval followed interim appointments10 באוק׳, 23:15 UTCCarry the Kettle says regional water is limited10 באוק׳, 23:15 UTCStanding Buffalo rejects another First Nation's partnership as consent10 באוק׳, 23:15 UTCConstruction status of the original data centre11 באוק׳, 2:00 UTCCarry the Kettle says regional aquifer needs protection10 באוק׳, 23:15 UTCCouncil approves public meetings and engagement8 באוק׳, 14:03 UTCBell describes the closed-loop cooling system10 באוק׳, 23:15 UTCCouncil members who resigned10 באוק׳, 23:15 UTCGovernment appointment of interim councillors10 באוק׳, 23:15 UTCכל שורה היא הטענה כפי שתיעדנו אותה מהדיווח של אותו כלי תקשורת. הושווה נכון ל-11 באוקטובר 2026 בשעה 06:25 UTC.
