Alberta First Nation voices ‘grave concern’ over Kevin O’Leary’s proposed $70B AI data centre

An bold plan from movie star investor Kevin O’Leary to construct the “world’s largest” AI information centre in northern Alberta is going through opposition from a First Nation within the area.

In December, O’Leary Ventures introduced plans to construct Surprise Valley, a $70-billion information centre within the Municipal District of Greenview, close to Grande Prairie.

The mission has been broadly praised, together with by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.

Its location would put it on conventional territory of the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. 

“Our individuals have been working and dwelling on this territory for a millennia, so it is regarding when we have now the federal government and Mr. O’Leary speaking about huge plans and there was no point out of First Nation session,” Chief Sheldon Sunshine advised CBC Information.

O’Leary has described the mission as transformative for the native and provincial financial system, with the potential to create 1000’s of jobs and make Alberta a world chief in AI infrastructure.

His firm has emphasised Alberta’s benefits for such a large-scale operation, citing its proximity to a close-by metropolis, considerable pure gasoline, cool temperatures, and out there house for the infrastructure. 

The information centre can be powered by a mixture of off-grid pure gasoline and geothermal power sources. The primary section of the event would price $2 billion and generate 1.4 gigawatts of energy, with extra phases deliberate to extend capability.

For the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation nonetheless, the event is seen as an infringement on treaty rights.

In an open letter to the Alberta premier, Sunshine expressed “grave concern” with the proposal, and reminded Smith that the province is certain by its obligations below Treaty 8. 

Sunshine accused the province of working with O’Leary “behind closed doorways and to the exclusion of our Nation, for an enormous improvement on our conventional territory.

“This co-ordination is much more troubling, given the premier’s and Mr. O’Leary’s beneficial statements in direction of [president-elect Donald] Trump following his threats to annex Canada,” he stated within the letter.

He stated the First Nation’s opposition is concentrated on the environmental dangers posed by the development of such a large-scale information facility in an ecologically delicate space.

First Nations members have traplines within the space, depend on water from the Smoky River and use the world “to train our lifestyle, which has been systemically eroded by unmitigated cumulative results from the provincial authorities’s authorizations of commercial improvement in our territory,” Sunshine wrote.

LISTEN | First Nations chief on Kevin O’Leary’s proposal:

In an announcement, the Alberta authorities advised CBC Information it’s dedicated to applicable consultations with First Nations at later phases of the mission. The assertion cited the financial advantages Surprise Valley would carry to the world. 

“Alberta’s authorities understands how essential it’s for Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation to train their Treaty rights and conventional makes use of now and into the longer term,” stated Jonathan Gauthier, press secretary to Know-how and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish.

“Setting and Protected Areas issued a preliminary certificates which is able to permit a Water Act licence to be issued in future, supplied varied obligatory circumstances are met,” Gauthier stated within the assertion.

“These circumstances embrace applicable session with First Nations.”

The Alberta Utilities Fee stated electrical energy technology elements of the size proposed for Surprise Valley would require AUC approval earlier than the technology amenities might be constructed or operated. The fee has not acquired an utility associated to the proposed improvement, it stated.

The Municipal District of Greenview advised CBC that early engagement by the developer has commenced, nicely prematurely of any requisite session sooner or later.

“The M.D. of Greenview seems to be ahead to the outcomes of any ongoing and future session and sincerely needs all events concerned within the proposed improvement can come collectively for the advantage of all within the area,” it stated in an announcement.

Early days, power economist says

Andrew Leach, an power and environmental economist on the College of Alberta, stated that whereas session with the First Nation would have been very best, it is not anticipated at this stage since there’s nonetheless a protracted street forward for a mission of that magnitude.

“At this level, it actually could not be seen to have impacted any treaty rights that might set off responsibility to seek the advice of,” Leach stated in an interview.

“In the event that they went forward and gave a allow for building or put main authorities funding behind its building with out session, that is the place you are working afoul.”

In the meantime, Sunshine stated Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation needs extra transparency from all events concerned. 

“We’re not against enterprise,” he stated.

“So long as it is executed in a sustainable manner and our assets are usually not impacted. We need to be a part of the answer, and I feel First Nation individuals will be a part of the answer.”