Telus Announces Three AI Data Centres in B.C., with Federal Government Backing

Telus Corp. announced Monday it will build two new data centres in Vancouver and expand an existing facility in Kamloops, B.C., to handle artificial intelligence workloads — a combined buildout requiring more than 150 megawatts of electricity by 2032, with support from the federal government.

Three Facilities, Three Timelines

The Kamloops expansion and a Vancouver facility in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood are both expected to come online later this year. The Mount Pleasant site, housed in an existing building, will scale up through 2028.

The largest of the three — a new development near BC Place in downtown Vancouver — will become operational in 2029. Spanning 400,000 square feet, it is designed to consume up to 100 MW of electricity and will house the bulk of the project’s computing power.

Once fully operational, the three facilities will collectively house more than 60,000 Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs), making it one of the largest GPU clusters in Canada.

Federal Involvement Still Taking Shape

Telus is the first company announced as a successful applicant under a federal AI data-centre program administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. The government received 160 applications through the program, AI Minister Evan Solomon said Monday.

Monday’s announcement marks the beginning — not the conclusion — of negotiations between Ottawa and Telus. A memorandum of understanding will follow, though no timeline has been set.

Solomon said the federal government is open to providing financial backstops and off-take agreements, where Ottawa purchases capacity directly. The 2025 federal budget directed him to identify and negotiate “new promising AI infrastructure projects” and to enable the Canada Infrastructure Bank to invest in such developments.

Not everyone welcomed the government’s role. Conservative MP Ben Lobb argued Canada’s energy supplies and cool climate already make it a natural hub for data centres. “They don’t need government involvement or tax dollars, they just need the Liberal government to get out of the way,” he said in a statement.

Capital Spending Under Scrutiny

Telus declined to disclose the total cost of the new facilities, citing competitive reasons. Spokesperson Liz Sauvé said any capital spending in 2026 falls within the company’s existing envelope, which it has projected at $2.3-billion — 10 per cent less than last year.

Canada’s major telecoms have broadly been cutting capital expenditures as they work to reduce heavy debt loads accumulated through years of infrastructure investment and acquisitions. Slower revenue growth, driven by lower cellphone plan prices and stagnant population increases, has added further pressure.

Telus has been expanding its AI infrastructure for several years. Last year, it converted an existing data centre in Rimouski, Que., to handle AI processing. Rival Bell Canada announced in March it would spend $1.7-billion over two years on a 300-megawatt data centre outside Regina, leasing space to AI tenants Cerebras and CoreWeave.

Westbank Partnership Raises Questions

Telus said it is partnering with Vancouver real estate developer Westbank Corp. on the new projects. Westbank has faced significant financial difficulties in recent years, including multiple lawsuits and liens from contractors claiming unpaid bills.

Most recently, a court-appointed receiver identified nearly $290-million owed to 20 secured creditors in connection with Westbank’s Vancouver rental developments at 5083 Joyce St.

Solomon said the federal government would proceed with caution. “We want to make sure this project is done right by the right people,” he said, promising transparency and rigour in Ottawa’s approach to its work with both Telus and Westbank.

Maple Ridge Food Bank Hits Record Demand as Donations Dry Up

The Friends In Need Food Bank in Maple Ridge, B.C., ran out of fresh food an hour before closing last week — a stark sign of a deepening crisis as demand reaches historic highs and donations continue to fall. Staff say the timing could not be worse.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated the food bank turned away clients after running out of food. In fact, clients who arrived after fresh food ran out received canned goods instead.

Demand Has Nearly Doubled in Five Years

Executive director Kim Boekhorst says the food bank now serves more than 1,000 different households each month — nearly double the 516 it served five years ago.

“More people than ever are turning to the food bank for support,” Boekhorst said. “We’re seeing working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and individuals who never expected to need help now relying on our services to get through the month.”

April was the food bank’s busiest month on record. Staff logged 3,009 visits, serving 1,001 households and 2,235 individuals — including 93 newly registered clients. That represents a 15 per cent increase in visits compared to the same period last year.

The profile of clients is also shifting. “It’s working families that are coming in,” Boekhorst said. “It’s not what you may imagine as a client that would attend the food bank.” A recent report from Food Banks Canada found that 19 out of every 100 food bank users across the country hold stable employment.

Grocery Store Donations in Sharp Decline

At the same time that demand is surging, the food bank’s Perishable Food Recovery Facility — which typically collects thousands of pounds of surplus food each week from local grocery stores — has seen donations drop dramatically.

Boekhorst points to two converging pressures. Rising food prices have prompted retailers to tighten inventory and order more conservatively, leaving less surplus available for redistribution. Canada’s Food Price Report forecasts food prices will rise between three and five per cent in 2025.

Trade disruptions are also playing a role. Ongoing supply chain challenges linked to new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods — and Canada’s retaliatory measures — have increased costs and complicated logistics for grocery retailers across British Columbia, further reducing the volume of perishable goods available for donation.

Boekhorst also noted that grocery chains are increasingly using discount apps to sell near-expiry products rather than donating them. “Of course, groceries are in the business of making money,” he said. “So they are likely cutting down shrinkage and there’s apps available now where you’re able to purchase at a discount rate before it’s donated.”

Staff Know the Struggle Firsthand

Meghann Forrest, who manages the food bank’s perishable food recovery program, says she understands what clients are going through from personal experience.

“I pretty much grew up using the food bank my whole life,” she said. “It’s horrible when you have to figure out how you’re going to get food for your family.”

Food insecurity is at a record high across British Columbia, with more than one million people now experiencing difficulty accessing adequate food — a figure that advocates say underscores the need for sustained public and government attention to the issue.

AirAsia Orders 150 Canadian-Built Airbus Jets in Landmark Deal for Quebec Aerospace

Southeast Asian low-cost carrier AirAsia X has signed a multibillion-dollar agreement to purchase 150 Airbus A220-300 jets built in Mirabel, Que. — the largest single order ever placed for a Canadian-made commercial aircraft, officials said Wednesday.

Tony Fernandes, co-founder of the Malaysia-based airline, signed the deal at Airbus’s Mirabel factory in the presence of Prime Minister Mark Carney and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette. Fernandes valued the order at US$19-billion at list price, though actual transaction prices are typically substantially lower.

A Conditional Double Order on the Table

Fernandes announced that AirAsia has also taken purchase options for an additional 150 jets — contingent on Airbus proceeding with a larger, as-yet-unapproved variant called the A220-500, which would seat up to 185 passengers.

“Get a move on. I do want that aircraft. If they build this aircraft, AirAsia will buy another 150,” Fernandes told Airbus executives during his remarks at the signing ceremony, drawing applause from employees in attendance.

He said he expects Airbus to make a final decision on the stretched model in November, with a potential entry into service by 2032. Other carriers, including Air France and U.S. budget airline Breeze Airways, have also expressed interest in the larger variant.

Carney’s Role in Closing the Deal

Prime Minister Carney, who knows Fernandes personally and met with him in Kuala Lumpur last October to discuss closer Canada-Asia ties, played a direct role in securing the agreement. “I think Mark Carney’s great for our brand,” Fernandes told The Globe and Mail. “He’s very popular in Asia. He’s been a great ambassador for Canada.”

Fernandes suggested Canada had historically been overshadowed by the United States in its commercial relationships with Asia, but that Carney had begun to shift that dynamic. “He’s spoken bravely and wisely,” Fernandes said. “I thought if we could support him, why not?”

Carney called the agreement “a turning point for the Quebec aerospace industry,” saying it would support thousands of well-paying jobs and demonstrate international demand for Canadian-made aircraft. He described the A220-500 as “an exciting opportunity” and said Ottawa is working with the Quebec government and Airbus to advance the project, though he offered no details on timing or potential public financing.

What the Deal Means for the A220 Program

The A220 program, which Airbus took over from Bombardier Inc. in 2018, has yet to turn a profit eight years after the transition. Airbus has now accumulated roughly 1,100 orders for the jet, which is assembled at facilities in Mirabel and Mobile, Ala.

The entire AirAsia order will be fulfilled at the Mirabel plant, Airbus’s dedicated facility for non-U.S. customers. First deliveries are expected in the first quarter of 2028.

For AirAsia, the order is partly a matter of practicality. The airline, which operates an all-Airbus fleet of roughly 250 aircraft, is pushing to expand after restructuring in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fernandes said the A220’s earlier availability compared to other Airbus models was a key factor. “You try and buy a new A321, you won’t get one until 2032,” he said. “I’m getting this in 2028.”

Ongoing Challenges for Airbus Canada

Despite the momentum, significant hurdles remain for the A220 program. Airbus has faced persistent supplier and labour disruptions, with bottlenecks in airframe components and cabin materials slowing deliveries to customers.

The aircraft’s Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines have presented a separate and serious problem. In 2023, Pratt & Whitney disclosed a widespread defect caused by contaminated powder metal used in engine production — an issue that affected a large portion of the global A220 fleet.

The Quebec government remains a partner in the Mirabel venture and, along with Airbus, has a direct financial stake in achieving a manufacturing rate that makes the program economically viable.

Ottawa Announces $1.5-Billion in Loans for Manufacturers Hit by U.S. Metal Tariffs

The federal government unveiled $1.5-billion in financing relief on Monday for Canadian manufacturers battered by expanded U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper — but the package drew immediate criticism for leaving out the forestry sector and failing to address the tariffs themselves.

What Ottawa Is Offering

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon announced the aid package at a dump truck manufacturing facility in Vars, Ont. The funding is split across two streams.

The BDC loans will range from $2-million to $50-million over three years. The first year carries no interest, followed by low rates in years two and three, with full repayment due at the end of the term.

“We’re in a trade war. We’re on the front lines, and the goal is to protect workers and actually keep companies afloat,” Joly said at the announcement.

What Triggered the Move

The announcement follows a significant escalation in U.S. trade policy. On April 6, Washington began applying a 25-per-cent tariff on the full value of imported “derivative” goods — products made with steel, aluminum or copper, ranging from industrial equipment to household appliances.

Previously, a 50-per-cent tariff had applied only to the metal content within those products, which typically represents a small fraction of total value. The change dramatically increased the cost burden on Canadian exporters.

Critics Say the Package Falls Short

The relief announcement drew swift pushback from opposition politicians and industry voices who argued the measures were inadequate.

The Conservative Party called the package a “Band-Aid” solution. Conservative industry critic Raquel Dancho said the announcement amounted to an admission that the Carney government has failed to secure a trade deal with the United States — the central promise of last year’s election campaign.

B.C. Premier David Eby was particularly pointed in his criticism, noting that the softwood lumber sector — which he said employs more Canadians than steel and auto parts combined — was excluded from the relief.

“I flipped eagerly to find the page on softwood lumber, and unfortunately found that, yet again, softwood lumber has been left off the list as a tariff-affected industry,” Eby told reporters.

Joly acknowledged the omission, saying Ottawa is in ongoing conversations with the forestry industry about future support. Asked whether U.S. tariffs would ever be lifted, the minister was candid: “I don’t know. These decisions will be taken south of our border.”

Smaller Firms Skeptical Aid Will Reach Them

For smaller manufacturers — particularly those in Western Canada — there is little confidence the money will filter down to businesses that need it most.

David Koss, president of Winnipeg-based Hunter Wire, a steel wire products manufacturer, was blunt in his assessment. “All the government bailouts are a complete waste of money,” he said. “Most of that money is going to first-tier, multinational steel producers located in southern Ontario and Quebec that are still laying people off.”

Koss said companies like his, which are heavily exposed to the April tariff changes, are being left to navigate the fallout largely on their own.

Steel Industry Calls for Stronger Import Protections

The Canadian Steel Producers Association welcomed the aid but urged the federal government to go further. The association called on Ottawa to expand and strengthen the 25-per-cent tariff on foreign steel derivative imports — introduced last November — boosting it to 50 per cent and broadening the list of covered products.

“This will offer immediate protection to a wider range of our customers,” said association president and CEO Catherine Cobden.

Ottawa also called on Canada’s major banks to step up, stating it “expects Canada’s financial institutions to continue to work with businesses as we lean in collectively to support this sector.”

Pump prices jump more than 30 cents per litre in Calgary and Edmonton

Alberta motorists faced a sharp overnight spike in gasoline prices Wednesday, with pump prices in Calgary and Edmonton surging by more than 30 cents per litre — a jolt that one industry analyst says may signal a lasting “new normal” driven by the ongoing war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

According to fuel-tracking website GasBuddy, Edmonton’s cheapest price Wednesday sat around $1.50 per litre, while many stations in the city climbed as high as $1.849. In Calgary, the lowest price hovered just under $1.60, with other stations reaching $1.869 per litre.

How Alberta compares to other major cities

Alberta’s prices, while painful for drivers, remain below those seen in Vancouver, where GasBuddy reported the lowest available price at $2.079 per litre Wednesday. Toronto offered somewhat more relief, with the cheapest price recorded at $1.596 per litre.

The spike comes despite a 10-cent federal excise tax cut on gasoline that took effect April 20 — a reduction that has done little to cushion the blow of rising global crude prices.

‘It’s like a tax increase’

“Fuel is outrageous right now. It’s a little bit uncontrollable,” said Francois Saad, who was filling his SUV at an Edmonton station Wednesday morning. He said it now costs him between $140 and $160 to fill his tank with 50 to 60 litres.

Richard Masson, former CEO of the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission, told Global News the price surge is rooted in global supply disruptions caused by the Iran conflict.

“What’s going on is the Strait of Hormuz has not been opened, and so global supply remains low,” Masson said. “A number of refineries that would normally be producing got damaged during the war, and the kinds of oil getting to refineries don’t fit as well — so they can’t make all the gasoline and diesel they would like to.”

Masson explained the price gap between Calgary and Edmonton by pointing to geography: Edmonton is home to Alberta’s refineries, and refined products must be shipped by pipeline or truck to Calgary and other markets, adding to the cost.

He described elevated fuel prices as functioning like a tax on household budgets. “Higher gasoline prices, higher natural gas prices flow through to your bottom line right away,” he said. “Effectively, you’re going to have to cut somewhere else in your budget to keep things balanced.”

Global crude prices continue to climb

Benchmark crude prices rose sharply Wednesday. West Texas Intermediate for June delivery climbed nearly US$7 per barrel to reach US$106.88, while Brent Crude briefly surged above US$120 before settling at around US$118 per barrel.

Masson cautioned that a quick return to pre-war conditions is unlikely. “We can’t be sure that if the Strait of Hormuz opens, it won’t get closed again — and there are insurance issues, crewing issues, and tankers out of position all over the world,” he said. “It’s not going to be a flick of the switch to come back to normal. There’s going to be a new normal.”

Drivers eye electric vehicles as long-term escape

For many Alberta drivers, the sustained price pressure is accelerating interest in electric vehicles. Lisa Gaffney, filling up at an Edmonton Mobil station, said she would like to afford an EV. “I think it’ll be good when we get to using more EVs and having more EV chargers around and not reliant on gas quite so much,” she said.

Thomas Helm echoed that view. “We’re already at the point of looking at an EV. It has kind of been in the background, but now it’s like we should really get one,” he said, noting that switching to electric could cut fuel costs by as much as 75 per cent.

Masson acknowledged EVs as a viable option for reducing exposure to fuel price volatility, and also pointed to public transit and cycling as alternatives for those with access. In the meantime, he advised motorists to shop around for the lowest available price, saying that consumer pressure “helps to keep prices down” — even as he warned that “the big picture trend is higher prices.”