Frustrated protesters found themselves shut out of a crucial public meeting as the Rural Municipality of Sherwood gave its official approval to Bell Canada's proposed $1.7-billion artificial intelligence data centre project. The contentious decision unfolded behind closed doors, with municipal officials limiting access to only a handful of media representatives and pre-registered delegates.
Public Outcry Meets Closed Doors
More than seventy concerned citizens gathered outside the Sherwood municipal office on the outskirts of Regina prior to Monday night's council meeting. The agenda prominently featured Bell's development agreement, which outlines the telecommunications giant's plans to service the massive AI infrastructure project. Despite the significant public interest, the R.M.'s small council chambers remained inaccessible to most community members.
Security personnel informed those gathered outside that the meeting space had reached capacity, locking the building's doors against additional attendees. The municipality attempted to provide a livestream of the proceedings, but technical difficulties rendered the audio unavailable until just before council members voted unanimously to approve the development agreement.
Protesters Voice Frustration
"This meeting is corrupt!" shouted one excluded community member as security asked her to leave the premises. "How can you not listen to the public's concern about this?"
Municipal politicians declined to add two individuals who had registered late as delegates, further limiting public participation. Interim Reeve Ray Orb acknowledged afterward that the R.M. could have been better prepared for the situation, stating, "We could have had better security here today."
Environmental Concerns Drive Opposition
Monday's protest marked the second demonstration in just three days against the proposed AI data centre. On Saturday, approximately 150 people gathered at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina, urging provincial and municipal officials to halt the project's advancement.
Protest organizers expressed consistent concerns about several potential impacts:
- Environmental consequences of the massive development
- Substantial water and electricity consumption requirements
- Potential noise pollution affecting surrounding communities
- Transparency issues regarding the approval process
Questions About Representation
Koby Schwab, one of the protest organizers, voiced skepticism about whether Sherwood's council had genuinely considered public input given the meeting's limited accessibility. The council's composition added another layer of concern, with over half of the seven-member body recently appointed by the provincial government following a sudden series of resignations.
"As far as leadership goes, I'm sure (Bell's plan) was just fine for them," Schwab remarked, "but was it up to the standards of the people?"
Project Background and Approval
Bell Canada has already secured a 160-acre parcel of land south of Regina but required council approval for its comprehensive development plan. The telecommunications company's $1.7-billion investment represents one of the region's most significant technological infrastructure projects in recent years.
Interim Reeve Orb noted that the municipality had received substantial public feedback through alternative channels, stating, "We did take a lot of information from extra people that sent submissions and had many emails and some phone calls and texts from people that are concerned."
The approval comes despite ongoing questions about the project's long-term environmental impact and the transparency of the decision-making process that excluded so many concerned citizens from the final deliberations.
