New Canadian-led infrastructure project will help build secure and reliable computing capacity responsibly
Today, the Government of Canada welcomed Bell Canada's planned investment to expand its Bell AI Fabric capacity in Saskatchewan, an important step toward building the sovereign computing capacity Canada needs to compete and succeed in the global artificial intelligence (AI) economy.
Bell's planned expansion of a major AI hub in Saskatchewan could provide up to 900 megawatts of new capacity, charting a path to a 1.2-gigawatt Canadian AI infrastructure hub in the province and creating 4,500 high-quality jobs. The project will involve a total capital investment of up to $52.5 billion, representing the largest capital investment in Saskatchewan's history.
Data centres and digital infrastructure are increasingly essential to Canada's economy and security. They support AI, health care, financial services, education, research and secure government systems. Building more of this infrastructure in Canada will help Canadian businesses and researchers access the computing power they need, while ensuring that critical infrastructure is governed by Canadian laws and operates under Canadian control.
Canada is well positioned to be a leader in this field, with its reliable and affordable power, some of the cleanest electricity in the world, a stable regulatory environment, first-rate construction capabilities and a cooler climate. Together, these advantages make Canada a strong destination for investment in sovereign digital infrastructure.
The Government of Canada is working with provinces, Canadian energy providers and leading technology companies to unlock the electrical capacity and private investment required to build this infrastructure at scale. This includes exploring opportunities that could support up to six gigawatts of new data centre capacity, as well as more than $100 billion in potential investment across Canada.
This growth will be responsible, deliver clear benefits for Canadians and be guided by Canada's recently released Responsible Data Centre Development Principles, which provide a national framework to help ensure that new data centre projects:
- create lasting benefits for local communities
- do not shift electricity costs onto Canadians
- minimize water use and environmental impacts
- are transparent about their local impacts
- bring strategic value to Canada
Announcements on specific projects will become possible once engagement with nearby communities, including Indigenous Peoples, is further advanced.
The Government of Canada will continue working closely with provinces, municipalities, Indigenous Peoples, communities, energy providers and industry to advance responsible projects and establish Canada as a global leader in sovereign digital infrastructure.
