An Alberta court has rejected a request from Kevin O’Leary’s firm, O’Leary Digital Limited, to dismiss a judicial review concerning consultation and water rights for the proposed Wonder Valley artificial intelligence data center project in northern Alberta. The $70 billion project is planned for the Municipal District of Greenview, with approval for withdrawing six million cubic meters of water annually from the Smoky River. O’Leary Digital sought to dismiss the judicial review application filed by Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, arguing that the company, as a directly affected party, was not served within the required timeframe.
Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation claims it was inadequately consulted during the water license approval process. Justice Parminder K. Johal, in a decision released on Thursday, found O’Leary Digital’s link to the license to be speculative, allowing the judicial review application to proceed. The company also requested intervenor status or to be added as a respondent in SLCN’s judicial review, both of which were dismissed by Johal.
SLCN Chief Sheldon Sunshine expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the judicial review presents an opportunity to uphold treaty rights and ensure proper consultation by the Crown. The Nation anticipates the judicial review will proceed in December.
O’Leary Digital CEO Paul Palandjian, in a statement to CBC News on August 14, mentioned that the company is evaluating the court’s ruling. Palandjian expressed disappointment with the decision and emphasized their commitment to meaningful consultation and responsible project development. Sunshine reiterated SLCN’s call for further consultation, requesting transparency regarding the project’s designs and technical reports for assessment, as done for other large-scale projects.