First Nations say Alberta data centre approach won't attract big tech players
The chiefs of the Alexander First Nation, Paul First Nation, Enoch Cree Nation and Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation outlined their concerns this week in an open letter to Premier Danielle Smith and members of her government.
'There are shovel-ready proposals backed by major industry players aligned with government objectives that will be left stranded without a change in proposed policy,' the chiefs wrote.
'Alberta should be a premier destination for hyperscale data centre investment. But strengths only matter if we act on them. Right now, Alberta's ability to execute and deliver on its promise is in question.'
Data centres are huge facilities housing the computing firepower needed for artificial intelligence and other applications. It can take an enormous amount of power to run and cool them. The chiefs say the amount of power the Alberta Electric System Operator has allotted to new projects falls short.
The Alberta Electric System Operator said earlier this month that it has received requests from 29 proposed data centre projects representing more than 16,000 megawatts — more than 11 times the City of Edmonton's load.
It said it will allow the connection of up to 1,200 megawatts of large load projects between now and 2028.
'Alberta has never seen this level and volume of load connection requests,' said AESO CEO Aaron Engen.
'As the system operator, we are responsible for ensuring that new project connections do not compromise grid reliability. Because connecting all large loads seeking access would impair grid reliability, we established a limit that preserves system integrity while enabling timely data centre development in Alberta.'
The Alberta government has set a goal of attracting $100 billion in data centre investment over five years.
But the chiefs wrote that the limit sends the wrong signal to tech powerhouses like Meta and Amazon.
'The hyperscalers 'don't build small.' They think in gigawatts, because their global operations require that scale,' they wrote.
'Under the current proposal, not even one such flagship project may be fully realized here without years of delay, since 1,200 megawatts total divided among many projects signals that Alberta isn't prepared to accommodate a true hyperscaler's needs.
'This sends an unintended but clear message to investors that Alberta's actions do not match its ambitions.'
The Alberta government supports the 'balanced approach' the AESO is taking, said the press secretary for Affordability and Utilities Minister Nathan Neudorf.
'Alberta aims to be the destination of choice for AI data centres in North America,' Ashli Barrett said in a written statement.
'At the same time, our government will always put the well-being of Albertans first and ensure data centre projects will not compromise the affordability or reliability of the electricity that millions of Albertans, First Nations, and our local industries depend on.'
Barrett added the 1,200-megawatt limit is short-term and should not be thought of as a cap.
'It will enable data centre projects in advanced stages of planning and development to get started, while government works to develop a long-term framework for data centres, which will provide additional pathways for data centres projects to meet their power needs, including encouraging them to bring their own power.'
Chief Tony Alexis of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation northwest of Edmonton said his community is looking at taking an equity stake in a project, and discussions are in the early stages.
He said First Nations want more than to be consulted — they are ready to invest.
'Our nations have been growing. We've got young populations and this industry can bring some real training, some jobs, some long-term prosperity for our community,' Alexis said in an interview.
'Alberta is aiming for a championship-level digital economy. We just need the stadium doors open wide enough so that the star players can participate and everyone wins.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business Insider
AI will augment high-skilled jobs but hit clerical work hardest, Australia's government predicts
Australia's jobs market is bracing for an AI shake-up. Generative AI is set to automate large chunks of routine clerical and administrative work while serving as a powerful assistant for high-skilled roles, according to new modelling from Jobs and Skills Australia. The government agency's "Our Gen AI transition" report, released on Thursday, used economy-wide Computable General Equilibrium modelling — a type of economic simulation that tracks how changes ripple across all industries and occupations — to forecast how automation and augmentation could reshape Australia's labor market between now and 2050. The model incorporated "exposure" scores for 998 occupations, estimating how much of each job could be fully automated or partially augmented by AI technology. The results showed that only about 4% of the workforce is in occupations with high automation exposure, while 79% have low automation exposure but medium-to-high augmentation potential. That means AI is more likely to change how most jobs are done rather than eliminate them. JSA's report listed routine clerical roles, including general clerks, receptionists, accounting clerks, and bookkeepers, as the most automatable. At the other end of the spectrum, knowledge-intensive jobs like managers, engineers, healthcare professionals, and educators had higher augmentation potential. JSA's modelling projected the biggest job declines by 2050 for general clerks, receptionists, accounting clerks and bookkeepers, sales and marketing professionals, and programmers. It predicted the largest job gains for cleaners and laundry workers, nurses and midwives, business administration managers, construction and mining laborers, and hospitality workers — occupations that require physical presence and human touch. While the pace of change will vary depending on how quickly industries and occupations adopt generative AI, JSA forecasts slower employment growth through the 2030s as the labor market adjusts, followed by faster growth in the 2040s. "The quality of adoption and implementation will be instrumental in achieving the benefits of labor-augmenting tools," the report said. The report also found no evidence of a broad decline in entry-level hiring so far, but said early signs suggest these jobs may evolve, shifting from performing repetitive tasks to overseeing and refining AI-generated outputs. JSA urged policymakers to prepare now with targeted training, industry partnerships, and digital inclusion efforts to ensure all workers can benefit from the AI transition, especially women, older Australians, First Nations peoples, and people with disabilities, who the report found are more likely to be in roles with higher automation risk. The findings come amid a wider debate over how AI will affect human work. Satya Nadella, the Microsoft CEO, has argued that while " knowledge work" will be redefined as AI takes on tasks once done exclusively by people, humans will still be needed to oversee and direct the technology. Others are more pessimistic. Adam Dorr, the research director at the think tank RethinkX, has warned that AI could make most human jobs obsolete by 2045, leaving only a narrow set of roles that depend on human connection or ethical complexity. Geoffrey Hinton, dubbed the "Godfather of AI," has meanwhile said " mundane intellectual labor" is most at risk, predicting that one person could end up doing the work of 10 with AI assistance. In the eyes of the Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, AI will automate certain roles but create new jobs in areas such as robotics, while Bill Gates has highlighted the potential for AI to solve chronic shortages of teachers and doctors.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Manitoba Indigenous groups agree to work together on major infrastructure projects
WINNIPEG — Two Indigenous groups in Manitoba have agreed to work together on major infrastructure and development projects. It comes as the federal government looks to fast-track projects across the country. The Southern Chiefs' Organization, which represents 32 Anishinaabe and Dakota First Nations in the province, and the Manitoba Métis Federation have signed a five-year agreement. It outlines their shared commitment to ensure First Nations and Red River Métis voices are included in the approval of any project proposed by the Manitoba government and supported by federal legislation. A new federal law gives Ottawa sweeping powers to speed up permits for what it calls "nation-building projects." The controversial legislation has faced pushback from Indigenous groups that argue elements of it could be used to undermine their rights. The Southern Chiefs' Organization and the Manitoba Métis Federation say they'll work together to pursue Indigenous-led developments in areas including forestry, harvesting and traditional economies. The Manitoba government is also exploring how it would create and operate a proposed Crown-Indigenous corporation. "This agreement sends a message to all governments, partners and industry that First Nations and the Red River Métis are working together to shape a future that is led by Indigenous nations," Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of the Southern Chiefs' Organization said Wednesday. "We are forging a path towards economic independence and sustainability, ensuring the voices of First Nations and Red River Métis are integral to the design, approval and implementation of nation-building projects across this province." Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the legislation is needed to shore up Canada's economy during the trade war with the United States. Ottawa has also promised to build up northern infrastructure, in part, to meet a NATO military alliance spending target for critical infrastructure. It's unknown which projects could be fast-tracked, but the government has pointed to ports, railways and pipelines. Carney recently met with First Nations, Inuit and Métis groups to discuss how best to build projects in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. The Manitoba Métis Federation turned down Carney's invitation to discuss the legislation, after Ottawa invited another Métis group the federation claims has no reason to exist. Other Métis groups and First Nations say communities represented by the Métis Nation of Ontario have no claim to Métis heritage and that Ottawa and Ontario have no right to recognize them. Manitoba Métis Federation president David Chartrand said the legislation must move forward, as Canada deals with ongoing threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. "There's not a doubt it must arrive, because the danger that Trump imposes on all of us is very scary ... this is an economic war, and people should not take it lightly," he said Wednesday. He added any nation-building projects approved in Manitoba must be done in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples in the province. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 13, 2025. Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Bloomberg
Alberta Bolsters Canada-Mexico Energy Ties as Trump Upends Trade
The leader of Canada's main oil-producing province visited Mexico in a bid to help reset relations with Latin America's second-largest economy, with a particular eye to promoting energy projects. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who previously argued Canada would be better off dealing with the US alone, emphasized that the northern nation now has the ability to ship oil and gas to Mexico directly thanks to new Pacific Ocean export facilities.
