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The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce sees today’s announcement of a Bell artificial intelligence data centre campus as a model for expansion in Saskatoon. The $1.7 billion artificial i (AI) data centre campus will be built near Regina.

Jason Aebig, CEO, Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce says, “A data centre is like a new highway to get ore from mine to market. The construction of that highway creates employment. But it’s the hundreds of good-paying jobs and millions in GDP from the mine that ultimately creates lasting impact and growth.”

BCE Inc, the parent company of Bell Canada, says the 300-megawatt data centre will be located in the RM of Sherwood and construction is slated to begin this spring.

In a news release the company says the facility is projected to generate economic value of up to $12 billion for the province, including short- and long-term job creation. During the construction phase the company estimates 800 jobs will be generated and once operational it will include a minimum of 80 full-time jobs.

In addition, the company expects as many as 750 additional community jobs to be created. This is BCE’s largest ever investment in the province and the facility will come online in stages, with the first stage expected to go live during the first half of 2027.

Jason Aebig says the chamber believes Saskatchewan, and economic hubs like Saskatoon, can become anchors for data centre development across Canada.