Statistics Canada Reports II

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

"Global Affairs" for a number of years now.

LOL because "Foreign" Afairs wasn't Inclusive enough for Justin.

[someone123]

I think to JT there was just a kind of apolitical cosmopolitanism, distinctions between Canadian and non-Canadian didn't feel like they made sense or were contemporary, and the whole thing was a sort of racist holdover from a less enlightened time which he had evolved beyond being caught up on.

Fast forward to 2026 and everyone's blowing each other up and putting tariffs on each other with nation level politics being all that matters, and the Liberals have no problem whatsoever with being jingoistically anti-American.

[The mayor]

https://www.sasktoday.ca/provincial-news/mcleod-enthused-about-jobs-numbers-for-march-12127355
McLeod enthused as province adds 15,000 jobs, unemployment hits low
Saskatchewan added 15,000 full-time jobs in March, with the province reporting the lowest unemployment rate among provinces.
McLeod also pointed to “major, major growth right here in Regina, with 7,800 jobs added.”

[Dalreg]

Originally Posted by The mayor

https://www.sasktoday.ca/provincial-news/mcleod-enthused-about-jobs-numbers-for-march-12127355
McLeod enthused as province adds 15,000 jobs, unemployment hits low
Saskatchewan added 15,000 full-time jobs in March, with the province reporting the lowest unemployment rate among provinces.
McLeod also pointed to “major, major growth right here in Regina, with 7,800 jobs added.”

So the government add 7,700 jobs in the government sector did they?

[Arrdeeharharharbour]

From CBC this morning:


March Jobs by A.J. Forsythe, on Flickr


The ROC lost 1000 jobs?

[The mayor]

Originally Posted by Dalreg

So the government add 7,700 jobs in the government sector did they?

Your statement makes zero sense Saskatchewan is booming. They just announced a twelve billion dollar data centre outside of Regina.
Also red leaf is building a one billion dollar plant , and a one billion dollar canola crushing plant is opening up this year

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by The mayor

Your statement makes zero sense Saskatchewan is booming. They just announced a twelve billion dollar data centre outside of Regina.
Also red leaf is building a one billion dollar plant , and a one billion dollar canola crushing plant is opening up this year

Do you mean the Bell AI data centre outside Regina? That's not 12 billion, it's $1.7bn. It might (but probably won't) add 'up to' $12bn in revenue, over it's entire life. The actual statement from Bell is far less clear on that. "Over time, the facility is projected to generate economic value of up to $12 billion for the province, including short- and long-term job creation, tax revenues and broader economic benefits. Construction will support at least 800 jobs in the trades and engineering, with a minimum of 80 full-time roles created once the facility is fully operational." Most of the $1.7bn will be spent on the equipment and systems inside the building, and it's unlikely much, if any, of that will be sourced locally.

Bell are also proposing a data centre "super cluster" in British Columbia, where power is cleaner, and cheaper.

And the overall job data for Saskatchewan may, or may not be as good as the minister says: Statistics Canada have taken down all the data pages, and the accompanying commentary.

[The mayor]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Do you mean the Bell AI data centre outside Regina? That's not 12 billion, it's $1.7bn. It might (but probably won't) add 'up to' $12bn in revenue, over it's entire life. The actual statement from Bell is far less clear on that. "Over time, the facility is projected to generate economic value of up to $12 billion for the province, including short- and long-term job creation, tax revenues and broader economic benefits. Construction will support at least 800 jobs in the trades and engineering, with a minimum of 80 full-time roles created once the facility is fully operational." Most of the $1.7bn will be spent on the equipment and systems inside the building, and it's unlikely much, if any, of that will be sourced locally.

Bell are also proposing a data centre "super cluster" in British Columbia, where power is cleaner, and cheaper.

And the overall job data for Saskatchewan may, or may not be as good as the minister says: Statistics Canada have taken down all the data pages, and the accompanying commentary.

Also, there’s going to be a lot of spinoffs from this

Anything to take down another province there where you are it’s a $12 billion data centre overtime
They’re also building lots of potash mines and uranium and mines in Saskatchewan all kinds of stuff happening so there you go

[Changing City]

Here are the Labour Market Indicators, by province, from Statistics Canada.
These are the actual labour force estimates for March, not seasonally adjusted. You also get population estimates (population aged 15+) for March. Change is shown from February

Canada population 34,736,800 +7,900,
Labour Force 22,325,300 –35,400
–88,300 employed (-94,100 full time, +5,800 part time).

Newfoundland/Labrador, population 473,100 +200,
Labour Force 265,500 +100
-400 employed (-900 full time)

PEI population 155,600 +200,
Labour Force 100,400 n/c
–300 employed (-400 full time)

Nova Scotia population 919,400 +800,
Labour Force 559,700 +1,300
–100 employed (-3,400 full time)

New Brunswick population 725,000 +500
Labour Force 430,100 +1,500
–800 employed (-2,500 full time)

Quebec population 7,593,400 –3,200
Labour Force 4,840,800 –23,700
–35,200 employed (-34,000 full time)

Ontario population 13,754,700 +2,300
Labour Force 8,773,800 –29,200
–39,800 employed (-43,700 full time)

Manitoba population 1,183,700 +1,100
Labour Force 784,000 +3,900
+1,700 employed (-800 full time)

Saskatchewan population 975,600 +1,300
Labour Force 648,100 –1,100
-200 employed (-4,100 full time)

Alberta population 4,114,200 +6,800
Labour Force 2,821,300 + 10,100
+1,000 employed (+3,800 full time)

British Columbia population 4,842,000 –2,200
Labour Force 3,101,700 + 1,800
-14,200 employed (–8,200 full time)

[Wigs]

.

[Changing City]

I should have noted that in labour force data they show the working age population - so over 15. It'll be different for the total population, obviously

[Dalreg]

Originally Posted by The mayor

Your statement makes zero sense Saskatchewan is booming. They just announced a twelve billion dollar data centre outside of Regina.
Also red leaf is building a one billion dollar plant , and a one billion dollar canola crushing plant is opening up this year

Yes and that is a few hundred jobs each mate. Look up the facts, a data centre employs a small staff once construction is complete. Same with Canola crushing plants.

Your statement makes less than zero cents?

[The mayor]

Originally Posted by Dalreg

Yes and that is a few hundred jobs each mate. Look up the facts, a data centre employs a small staff once construction is complete. Same with Canola crushing plants.

Your statement makes less than zero cents?

It must be nice to have your morning coffee and trash other parts of the country that you don’t like obviously or else you wouldn’t make a comment. The fact is these are major, economic developments, major whether you like it or not the the city is booming. There’s construction everywhere. Have you ever looked at the main Regina page. I’ve never seen you once betting on nice comment , 80% of Canada’s best farmland is around Regina Saskatchewan feeds the Hungary of the world
And yes, Regina has had 7800 jobs and they’re not in government. Just come here to start trouble and stir the pots. Nothing more nothing less. Enjoy your morning coffee and be happy that other places are doing well.

[ssiguy]

Originally Posted by Changing City

I should have noted that in labour force data they show the working age population - so over 15. It'll be different for the total population, obviously

Appreciate the stats.

Yes, those numbers are exclusively for the labour force but they are still a good reflection of both national and provincial growth levels.

[Surrealplaces]

Originally Posted by Dalreg

Yes and that is a few hundred jobs each mate. Look up the facts, a data centre employs a small staff once construction is complete. Same with Canola crushing plants.

Your statement makes less than zero cents?

Yes, it's true data centres don't employ many people once they're up and running and I'm skeptical of a $12 billion return, but they still have their benefits. This data centre will still be positive for Saskatchewan's economy.

There are data centres proposed all over the place. There's one in Olds Alberta that would be Canada's largest if built, and would be about 4 times the size of the one near Regina....if it gets built. All of this is demand is being generated by demand for AI, and things in that area could change fairly quickly.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Do you mean the Bell AI data centre outside Regina? That's not 12 billion, it's $1.7bn. It might (but probably won't) add 'up to' $12bn in revenue, over it's entire life. The actual statement from Bell is far less clear on that. "Over time, the facility is projected to generate economic value of up to $12 billion for the province, including short- and long-term job creation, tax revenues and broader economic benefits. Construction will support at least 800 jobs in the trades and engineering, with a minimum of 80 full-time roles created once the facility is fully operational." Most of the $1.7bn will be spent on the equipment and systems inside the building, and it's unlikely much, if any, of that will be sourced locally.

Bell are also proposing a data centre "super cluster" in British Columbia, where power is cleaner, and cheaper.

And the overall job data for Saskatchewan may, or may not be as good as the minister says: Statistics Canada have taken down all the data pages, and the accompanying commentary.

I question why any Canadian province would want data centres after reading stuff like this:

...Reasons for surging power bills depend on where you live. New England states are contending with higher natural gas prices and too few gas pipelines to supply the region, especially on the coldest days. California’s residential electricity rates are close to double those in the rest of the US in large part because of the state’s ambitious climate policies and costs tied to preventing wildfires.

In Pennsylvania, power plant retirements are squeezing supply as data centers are stoking demand. The state’s electricity comes from the PJM Interconnection power grid, the nation’s largest, stretching over 13 states from the Midwest to the East Coast. Residential electricity rates on this grid have risen rapidly since 2020, with the three states that gave PJM its name—Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland—seeing increases of about 40% in that time, ­according to BloombergNEF. In parts of eastern Pennsylvania, home to the Lehigh Valley, the price of electricity has soared 200% since 2020, pushing up the average bill by about $23 per month this year alone.

Because infrastructure costs and higher wholesale electricity prices are spread across the grid, even people who live far from data center hot spots are bearing the cost. On the PJM grid, data centers will add at least $23 billion to customer bills over the three years ending in May 2028, according to Monitoring Analytics, the grid’s independent market monitor.
...(bold mine)

https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2026-power-bills-midterm-election-issue/

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by whatnext

I question why any Canadian province would want data centres after reading stuff like this:

...Reasons for surging power bills depend on where you live. New England states are contending with higher natural gas prices and too few gas pipelines to supply the region, especially on the coldest days. California’s residential electricity rates are close to double those in the rest of the US in large part because of the state’s ambitious climate policies and costs tied to preventing wildfires.

In Pennsylvania, power plant retirements are squeezing supply as data centers are stoking demand. The state’s electricity comes from the PJM Interconnection power grid, the nation’s largest, stretching over 13 states from the Midwest to the East Coast. Residential electricity rates on this grid have risen rapidly since 2020, with the three states that gave PJM its name—Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland—seeing increases of about 40% in that time, ­according to BloombergNEF In parts of eastern Pennsylvania, home to the Lehigh Valley, the price of electricity has soared 200% since 2020, pushing up the average bill by about $23 per month this year alone.

Because infrastructure costs and higher wholesale electricity prices are spread across the grid, even people who live far from data center hot spots are bearing the cost. On the PJM grid, data centers will add at least $23 billion to customer bills over the three years ending in May 2028, according to Monitoring Analytics, the grid’s independent market monitor.
...(bold mine)

https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2026-power-bills-midterm-election-issue/

Investing heavily in data centres is a no brainer for Canada.


1. Canada is NOT the United States. Canadian electricity production is heavily skewed towards renewables (hydro, nuclear) with huge largely untapped wind and solar potential. Canadian electricity is much cheaper and can remain much cheaper if it is properly expanded and managed.

2. Data centres have become a national security issue. It's strategically foolish to offshore control over information to other countries; especially hostile ones like the USA that weaponize it against us.

3. Data centres give off a lot of heat and need huge power supplies to keep them cool. This is another competitive advantage for Canada as they aren't nearly as power hungry for a good part of the year due to our climate. We'd be wise to exploit this advantage rather than assuming what makes sense in the USA makes sense for Canada.

4. Canada is an electricity exporter, so we actually subsidize the USA with power at rates below what they can produce it. We should, over the long term, curtail exports to the USA and re-route power domestically to ensure continued cheaper power to Canadians and Canadian industry. It's a competitive advantage that we've been squandering the last 30 years. It's short sighted to sell them cheap power that US industry then uses to compete with our own industries. Dumb dumb dumb!

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Investing heavily in data centres is a no brainer for Canada.


1. Canada is NOT the United States. Canadian electricity production is heavily skewed towards renewables (hydro, nuclear) with huge largely untapped wind and solar potential. Canadian electricity is much cheaper and can remain much cheaper if it is properly expanded and managed.

Not all data centre proposals are equal though. The conversation started with the claim that Bell's proposed AI centre outside Regina would generate employment, although Bell only identify 80 long term jobs to be created. One problem with a Saskatchewan development that relies on a lot of electricity is that very little power is generated from renewable sources - Saskpower says 48% is from burning gas, and 26% is from burning coal.

Rather than phasing out coal, as previously indicated, the government proposes to refurbish the province's coal power plants which will cost $2.6 billion — nearly three times the previous estimate. The annual fuel cost to operate the power stations would be about $310 million a year or roughly a total of $4.6 billion over the next 15 years. The “plan” also shows no maintenance expenditures for these elderly power stations beyond 2035. Saskatchewan is the only province to contemplate operating coal-fired power stations into the 2030s in defiance of federal law.

It's been suggested that for the same level of investment, Saskpower could build about 1800 MW of wind and solar capacity, with the appropriate battery storage to cover the periods when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing. And there would be no additional cost of fuel, or atmospheric pollution generated.

There's no specific plans to pay for the nuclear power plants that are supposed to replace the coal plants eventually, and they could easily cost $90bn at current costs for new nuclear generation. Saskpower already operate with a $10bn debt load.

[Surrealplaces]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Not all data centre proposals are equal though. The conversation started with the claim that Bell's proposed AI centre outside Regina would generate employment, although Bell only identify 80 long term jobs to be created. One problem with a Saskatchewan development that relies on a lot of electricity is that very little power is generated from renewable sources - Saskpower says 48% is from burning gas, and 26% is from burning coal.

There's no specific plans to pay for the nuclear power plants that are supposed to replace the coal plants eventually, and they could easily cost $90bn at current costs for new nuclear generation. Saskpower already operate with a $10bn debt load.

I don't know the economics behind the plan in Saskatchewan, but in the case of Alberta, the dollars work for data centres by using natural gas for the electricity as it is cheaper than renewables, and also with natural gas it's easy to produce high amounts of electricity on demand and it's easy to scale.

Originally Posted by Changing City

It's been suggested that for the same level of investment, Saskpower could build about 1800 MW of wind and solar capacity, with the appropriate battery storage to cover the periods when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing. And there would be no additional cost of fuel, or atmospheric pollution generated.

I'm curious to know who's suggesting it would be the same level of investment to use solar and wind with battery storage to power the data centre. Amazon invested in some solar farms in Alberta to power their cloud data centres in Calgary, but they have been upfront about it being more expensive. One main reason Amazon chose Calgary is because even they would be using solar power, they can still use natural gas powered electricity at the drop of a hat, and can use tons of it if they ever needed to.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

I'm curious to know who's suggesting it would be the same level of investment to use solar and wind with battery storage to power the data centre. Amazon invested in some solar farms in Alberta to power their cloud data centres in Calgary, but they have been upfront about it being more expensive. One main reason Amazon chose Calgary is because even they would be using solar power, they can still use natural gas powered electricity at the drop of a hat, and can use tons of it if they ever needed to.

They weren't comparing the level of investment to use solar and wind with battery storage to burning gas. They were comparing the cost of investing in renewable energy with the proposed investment in the existing coal fired electricity plants in Saskatchewan. It wasn't specifically about the data centre, which will obviously increase the demand for power, unless they had their own power generation (which isn't the case, as far as I can see).