REGINA, Sask. – While R.M. of Sherwood councillors were meeting to decide on a rezoning application for the Bell AI Data Centre expansion, opposition New Democrats were voicing outrage that it was even taking place.
At the legislature Thursday, NDP Government Relations critic Erika Ritchie roasted the government in Question Period over what she called a lack of transparency or consultation regarding the data centre project.
She was particularly incensed that bylaws were scheduled to be voted on at R.M. of Sherwood council that day on a rezoning application for the data centre expansion, with a majority of the council consisting of unelected members appointed by the government.
What further raised NDP eyebrows was that those four members of council — appointed by the government to fill vacancies earlier this year — were just days away from leaving, with elections scheduled for Monday.
“We have an RM council that has largely been appointed by the government, and now they are making decisions today that are basically going to pave the way for the next set of decisions around the development of this AI data centre,” Ritchie said to reporters.
“So, we have questions about that, you know, in terms of there's been a lack of accountability and transparency all along throughout the development. “
Ritchie wondered about the timing of the meeting and pointed to Monday’s elections. She said appointed councillors were “going to create the conditions for this project to go forward, without allowing the duly elected council that's happening on Monday to do their due diligence and due process on these very, very significant decisions.”
During Question Period, Minister of Government Relations Eric Schmalz had explained that councils lose quorum from time to time and in those instances, the government is required to appoint “caretakers” to fill the vacancies and continue the business of the council until the next election.
“In fact, back in 2007 in this very RM, it was Harry Van Mulligan who appointed a council to that same RM in order to continue the business of the day,” Schmalz said.
He described the process as “above board” and “following the letter of the law.”
Ritchie did not buy Schmalz’s explanations. “Well, I mean, that's ridiculous,” she told reporters.
“The Minister is saying there's nothing to see here, that this is just business as usual. This is not business as usual. We have a massive hyperscale data centre that's going ahead without any public consultation, not a shred. And he wants us to believe that this is just business as usual. I'm sorry, the people of Saskatchewan are not buying it.”
Ritchie particularly wanted to know why the data centre project was moving so fast.
“Eight months into an announcement and, you know, there's a building going up so quickly. And so it raises many questions and concerns in people's mind about why are you moving so quickly? Why aren't you taking the time to engage with the public as you should and as is required by legislation to ensure that the very legitimate questions that people have right now can be answered about, like, who's actually benefiting? And what safeguards are in place to ensure that the interests of the people of Saskatchewan are protected?”
Ritchie admitted it was “frustrating” for both the Opposition and for ratepayers in the R.M. of Sherwood. “They've come forward with concerns and they've gone nowhere.”
