There’s backlash over an artificial intelligence information centre proposed for northern Alberta.
A First Nation says the plans infringe on treaty rights. It’s also elevating issues about Premier Danielle Smith’s relationship with a star investor.
Final month, the Municipal District of Greenview partnered with Dragon’s Den star Kevin O’Leary to construct an off-grid pure gas-powered information centre in its area.
The centre can be used to carry computing sources to develop and prepare synthetic intelligence fashions.
Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Chief Sheldon Sunshine instructed World Information that the positioning impacts sources on their treaty land and that the First Nation was not consulted.
“With one thing on this nature, this dimension that they’re speaking, have that open dialog with us. That’s in our yard,” Sunshine mentioned.
In a letter written to Smith, obtained by World Information, the chief raises issues about whether or not Smith has given permits to O’Leary for gasoline or water entry.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Know-how and Innovation mentioned it’s dedicated to significant and thorough session with First Nations on initiatives the place rights could also be impacted.
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“The Municipal District of Greenview has expressed curiosity in creating the Greenview Industrial Gateway industrial zone,” press secretary Jonathan Gauthier mentioned in a press release. “To help them of their planning, Atmosphere and Protected Areas issued a Preliminary Certificates which is able to enable a Water Act licence to be issued in future, offered numerous necessary circumstances are met. These circumstances embody acceptable session with First Nations.”
The assertion added that no purposes have been submitted to Atmosphere and Protected Areas or provincial areas and no Water Act licence has been issued for the venture.
O’Leary Ventures didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Sunshine additionally raised issues about Smith travelling with O’Leary in an effort to get funding for this information centre.
A spokesperson for the premier’s workplace mentioned Smith is proud to help initiatives they are saying will create jobs and develop Alberta’s financial system.
“The Premier routinely meets with key buyers and companies to make the case that Alberta is without doubt one of the finest funding locations on the planet. To characterize the Premier’s conversations with Mr. O’Leary as something greater than that will be inaccurate,” press secretary Sam Blackett mentioned.
Matthew Wildcat, an assistant professor and the director of Indigenous governance and partnership on the College of Alberta, mentioned it’s onerous to know what’s happening behind the scenes.
He mentioned that whereas the province is following the legislation, he want to see the Alberta authorities observe a world commonplace known as “free, prior and knowledgeable consent.”
“The massive phrase right here is ‘prior,’ proper? If one needed, they’ll make an enormous technical argument that nothing has began right here and Indigenous individuals will probably be introduced on board however I believe that’s betraying the spirit of what Indigenous individuals have been asking for, which is an open and clear relationship,” Wildcat mentioned.
Sunshine agrees. He hopes no matter comes out of this information centre doesn’t deplete sources his individuals depend upon.
© 2025 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
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