Bell’s AI Data Centre Project Near Regina Set to Quadruple in Size
Historic Saskatchewan expansion could become Canada’s largest AI infrastructure hub, with up to C$52.5 billion in investment and 4,500 jobs.
By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi/ Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada
September 14, 2026
Bell Canada has announced plans to quadruple the size of its landmark artificial intelligence data centre project near Regina, transforming the development into what could become the largest AI infrastructure hub in Canadian history.
The expansion was unveiled during Canada’s first national Investment Summit in Toronto, where Prime Minister Mark Carney, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Bell CEO Mirko Bibic confirmed a new memorandum of understanding that would increase the project’s capacity from 300 megawatts to 1.2 gigawatts.
A C$52.5 billion nation-building project
The proposed expansion represents a dramatic increase in both scale and economic impact.
Bell says the fully developed project could attract up to C$52.5 billion in total capital investment, making it the largest private capital investment ever announced in Saskatchewan.
The project will be developed in phases, adding up to 900 megawatts of additional computing capacity to the original 300-megawatt facility already under construction in the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, just outside Regina.
Once completed, the site is expected to serve as a national hub for sovereign AI computing, ensuring that sensitive Canadian data remains stored and processed within Canada.
Thousands of jobs expected
The expansion is also expected to deliver a major employment boost for Saskatchewan.
Federal officials estimate the project could create approximately 4,500 high-quality jobs across construction, engineering, technology and long-term operations.
The original 300-megawatt project had already been projected to support more than 800 construction jobs and generate billions of dollars in long-term economic activity. The expanded development significantly increases those expectations.
Premier Scott Moe described the investment as a transformational opportunity that positions Saskatchewan at the centre of Canada’s growing AI economy.
Powering Canada’s AI future
Bell says the Regina project forms part of its broader Bell AI Fabric strategy, aimed at building Canadian-owned infrastructure capable of supporting advanced artificial intelligence models, enterprise computing and government workloads.
Rather than relying on foreign cloud infrastructure, the company says the facility will provide secure, high-performance computing capacity for Canadian businesses, researchers and public institutions.
The additional power generation required for the expansion will be developed under Saskatchewan’s “Bring Your Own Power” framework, with partner-built natural gas generation supporting the phased rollout of the new capacity.
Construction remains on schedule
Despite the larger vision, Bell confirmed that construction of the original 300-megawatt data centre will continue as planned.
The first data hall is still expected to become operational in the first half of 2027, while future expansion phases will proceed as customer demand, commercial agreements and regulatory approvals are secured.
Bell has also announced that its national AI Fabric headquarters will be established in Saskatchewan, further strengthening the province’s role in Canada’s emerging artificial intelligence sector.
Why it matters
The project reflects Canada’s growing ambition to compete globally in artificial intelligence while maintaining data sovereignty and domestic computing infrastructure.
As demand for AI accelerates worldwide, governments are increasingly investing in large-scale data centres capable of powering everything from healthcare and scientific research to advanced manufacturing and public services.
For Saskatchewan, the Bell AI Fabric expansion is more than a technology project—it represents a long-term economic strategy that could reshape the province into one of North America’s leading AI infrastructure destinations.
