Telus has opened what it claims is Canada’s first sovereign AI factory in Rimouski, Quebec—a secure facility built to handle advanced artificial intelligence while keeping all data under Canadian control.
Powered by NVIDIA’s latest GPUs and HPE infrastructure, the centre is designed for everything from training new AI models to customizing them and running them in real-world apps.
Telus says the project is backed by its PureFibre network and powered by 99% renewable energy, operating at three times the industry’s average efficiency while using 75% less water through natural cooling systems.
Darren Entwistle, CEO of Telus, said yesterday in a statement to iPhone in Canada the AI factory “marks a defining milestone for Canada’s digital future.” He added, “businesses, researchers and governments should not have to rely on foreign-controlled systems to advance their AI ambitions.”
“By keeping data and compute within Canada, Telus is contributing to responsible innovation and strengthening our broader economic objectives,” said Evan Solomon, the federal Minister of Artificial Intelligence (and former CBC journalist).
When asked by a journalist yesterday how Canada could really claim “sovereignty” when U.S. agencies like the DOJ, FBI, and CIA can legally access servers and software from any American company worldwide, Solomon didn’t have a clear answer.
He responded: “Great question about the Cloud Act, and by the way, the Patriot Act. There are two aspects that Canadians are concerned about…” He went on to talk about balancing digital sovereignty with trade, Canadian data centres, and possible two-key systems—but ultimately left unanswered how U.S. law could still apply to the American-made hardware and operating systems that power Telus’ new ‘sovereign’ AI facility.
Partners already on board include League, which will use the platform for AI-powered healthcare services, Accenture to serve clients in regulated industries like healthcare and finance, and OpenText, which will provide secure enterprise AI through its Aviator platform.
Now, back in June, rival Bell opened its first AI compute network in Kamloops, B.C., as part of its Bell AI Fabric portfolio, which may put the Telus claim of being first in Canada into question. According to a Bell spokesperson, there are “more sites to open in the coming months.”
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