Bell’s new AI data centre under construction near Regina late June, 2026. Photo courtesy Mike Singleton Photos
The Saskatchewan NDP have identified the spectacular growth of data centres in this province as their next target, with a full court press against the expansion of such centres.
On Sept. 14, Premier Scott Moe, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Bell Canada announced that the current $12.5 billion data centre under construction just outside of Regina will be quadrupled in size. It will now need 1,200 megawatts of power (Bell is building 900 megawatts of capacity itself and buying 300 from SaskPower. The total investment is now pegged at $52.5 billion, the largest in Canadian history by dollar value. That’s more than LNG Canada, more than two years of Saskatchewan provincial budgets, and much more than the total investment that took place during Saskatchewan’s “Bakken Boom.”
The next day the NDP firmed up their position – stop them now, and call a referendum.
Here’s what NDP Leader Carla Beck released as a statement on Sept. 15.:
Today, we’re demanding a moratorium on the construction of hyperscale AI data centres in Saskatchewan.
This moratorium should remain in place until a proper process for assessing these massive projects and their impact is implemented and robust public consultation occurs.
Yesterday, Scott Moe and the Sask. Party unilaterally announced the quadrupling of the size of the Sherwood-based AI Data Centre despite zero public consultation. The government has also failed to consult on another project planned in Moose Jaw — that may now be paused — and a third near Saskatoon.
Municipal governments are required to hold public consultation before they construct a parking lot on an empty field — surely, we can hold ourselves to the same standard on projects that will have a major impact on our power grid, our water supply and our broader environment.
Our team has been doing what the Government should have done — consulting with thousands of Saskatchewan people. What we heard is people are rightly asking how high their power bills will go to run these centres, they’re asking about impacts to water supply, about how their data will be protected and so much more.
They’re also raising legitimate questions about why the Sask. Party has rammed through the approval of the Sherwood data centre, specifically, and ignored them at every turn.
Our team has determined, through this consultation, that a moratorium is necessary.
We believe these projects should be built by Saskatchewan workers.
We believe these projects should not saddle overwhelmed families with higher taxes and power rates.
And we believe, above all, that Saskatchewan people deserve a voice in their communities.
To everyone we’ve spoken to, I want you to know our team heard you, we’re fighting for what matters to you and we believe that better is possible.
Together, we can deliver real change in Saskatchewan.
The NDP have media events planned for Saskatoon and Moose Jaw on Sept. 16, both showing opposition to proposed data centres.
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At the same time, Premier Scott Moe released this seven minute video on why Saskatchewan should be building these data centres, using the metaphor of “home ice advantage.”
Home ice matters.
The new Bell data centre near Regina is the largest capital project ever in Canada and will create thousands of good paying jobs.
But it's much more than that.
It's about building to protect Canada's data sovereignty, our destiny and our future.… pic.twitter.com/5j7IkOC1Bv
— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) September 15, 2026
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- 0134 SASPO-2956_ Safety 20260134 SASPO-2956_ Safety 2026
- 0133 LC Trucking hiring Class 1A Payden0133 LC Trucking hiring Class 1A Payden
- 0132 UMWA 20260132 UMWA 2026
- 0129 Turnbull drivers operators0129 Turnbull drivers operators
- 0128 OSY Rentals updated0128 OSY Rentals updated
- 0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_
- 0118 IBEW 30 sec0118 IBEW 30 sec
- 0114 Prospera Bold Vision0114 Prospera Bold Vision
- 0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer
- 0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended
- 0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p
- 0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it
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