Worries about the rise of data centres in Hamilton drew thousands to city hall this summer, and many voters might consider this issue when casting their ballots in the upcoming municipal election.
The surge of artificial intelligence (AI) has sped up the creation of facilities that store and process data as well as run software. However, it has also ignited protests across Canada regarding the substantial water and energy required to operate these sites.
In Hamilton, there are at least two proposed data centre projects from supporters who claim they would enhance academic research:
A proposal to the federal government by the Digital Research Alliance of Canada (DRAC) for a “National AI Compute Facility.” This facility would be situated on a roughly three-hectare waterfront industrial site that DRAC plans to purchase from Slate Asset Management – a real estate investment firm involved in the project. DRAC states its proposal is currently under review. A pitch from s2e, an Ontario company proposing a data centre for Mc Master University at the old building. This property is owned by Mc Master Innovation Park, which promotes business startups. Mc Master University has indicated that this proposal is still in the “due diligence phase.”
During heated public discussions, Ward 3 councillor Nrinder Nann introduced a motion for a year-long ban on developing data centres so that city officials can evaluate and refine rules regarding these facilities. The council rejected this moratorium with a 10-6 vote in July.
The following month, Ontario’s government announced an initiative to attract data centres, arguing they would lead to investments and job creation.
Nann informed CBC Hamilton that if she wins re-election, she’ll push again for the moratorium.
Cooper voted against instituting an emergency halt last July. Do you support council ‘ s refusal towards implementing restrictions concerning constructing new centers ? Yes. How ought Hamilton manage future developments involvingdatacenters? Every proposed facility oughtto beevaluatedindividually alongside ensuring safeguards safeguarding both taxpayersand residents exist. Proposals merit assessmentbasedonevidenceincluding economical advantages vs risks , infrastructure needs, electricity & water demands , environmental/community impactpublichealth/safety concerns landusage. Protecting taxpayer interests matters significantly too – thus existing electricity rate payers shouldn’t bear additional costs arising directlyfrom private ventures. Hence engaging province already governs aspectsrelatedtothedata centerindusty while devising further regulationsrequiredwithinthissector. Hamiltonmustcollaboratewithprovincialofficials&utilityservicesaswellaslocalexpertsfordeterminingthosepreciseobligationsplusidentifyinganyregulatorygapswhennecessary. I’dbackadequate, evidence-basedmeasureswheregapsarefoundwithinmunicipalboundaries. Thisendeavorisn’taboutbeingagainstorfornewdevelopmentbutensuring each plan abidesbyestablishedstandards whilst prioritizingcommunityprotection&demonstrating tangiblebenefits forthecity’sofficials!Paul Fromm Paul Fromm possessesa historyofassociatingwithwhite supremacist groups. Ithas seen him lead variousfar-rightorganizations whilehavingbeendismissedfromteachingroleat Peel District School Board duehispoliticalinvolvement. Runningformayorin Hamiltonmultiple timeshasbeennoted too.
Frommdidnotrespondto CBCHamilton’ssurvey.Scarlett Gillespie Scarlett Gillespie(33)actsasanadvocateforyouth workandhousingaffairswhileholdingpositionoftheexecutive directorfor Sex Workers’Action Program Hamilton
(SWAP-H).(SWAP-H).Do you agreewithcouncil’sdecisiontovote downtheproposedmoratoriumoncentres? No. How should Hamiltonguidedevelopmentsconcerningdatacentres? Thecityneedsaclear frameworkfor datacentersbeforeallowinglargescaleinitiatives. Ibacksite-specificzoningstandards; providingforecastsforprojectedelectricityusage&waterrequirements; enforceableemission/noise/heatregulations; analysesofthegrid/infrastructuralcapacities, responseplansfor emergencies; Indigenous/publicconsultation alongwithtransparencyregardingpermanentjobs, taxrevenuegeneratedandassociatedcostsbeyondpublicexpenditures. Largerhyperscalefacilitiesdifferentiate themselvesfromsmallerresearchfacilities. Whenmajorprojectscreateextraordinary infrastructuredemands, Iwould seekoutcommunity-benefitagreementsaimed mitigating negativeimpacts pluscoveringexpenses sothat residentsarenotsubsidizingprivateschemes. Decisions must bemadeusing evidence-backed methodologies conducted openly!Davidharrison
Nahalie Xian Yi Yan
What Hamilton’s mayoral candidates say
CBC Hamilton reached out to candidates to learn their positions on issues like data centres. Their responses are listed below alphabetically by last name and edited for clarity. For those candidates who did not respond to our questionnaire, information has been gathered from public sources.Sasha Austin
Sasha Austin, 47, identifies as a lifelong resident of Hamilton and serves as a patient navigator with experience across healthcare, housing, and social services sectors. Do you agree with council’s decision to vote down a proposed moratorium on data centre construction? No. How should Hamilton manage data centre development in the city? The city needs strict regulations preventing any AI data centre from being built here.Ejaz Butt
Ejaz Butt, 73, is an experienced leader in the taxi industry who has previously run for political office. Do you agree with council’s decision to vote down a proposed moratorium on data centre construction? No. How should Hamilton manage data centre development in the city? I’m not convinced that any potential benefits outweigh risks highlighted by residents and community organizations. My concerns focus on how such large projects could affect local infrastructure and environment long-term. Residents deserve clear answers about energy use and environmental effects while knowing what specific advantages their community would receive in return. Therefore I believe we need to proceed cautiously until those questions are transparently addressed satisfactorily. Furthermore I think municipalities should have more power over regulating these datacentres and addressing their impacts locally. Decisions involving such initiatives should be made based upon what’s best for local communities along with cooperation between private companies and higher government levels. Municipal governments must participate not just during planning but also regulation phases.David Mark Cherkewski
David Mark Cherkewski advocates against poverty issues; he was previously part of Ontario’s basic income pilot program. He did not reply to CBC Hamilton’s survey nor does he seem to have publicly accessible campaign materials available online.Rob Cooper
Rob Cooper is 59 years old; he currently represents Ward 8 as its councillor while being recognized professionally as a chartered accountant having held senior roles within companies like Stelco , TD Bank , Mc Master University , and Manulife.Cooper voted against instituting an emergency halt last July. Do you support council ‘ s refusal towards implementing restrictions concerning constructing new centers ? Yes. How ought Hamilton manage future developments involvingdatacenters? Every proposed facility oughtto beevaluatedindividually alongside ensuring safeguards safeguarding both taxpayersand residents exist. Proposals merit assessmentbasedonevidenceincluding economical advantages vs risks , infrastructure needs, electricity & water demands , environmental/community impactpublichealth/safety concerns landusage. Protecting taxpayer interests matters significantly too – thus existing electricity rate payers shouldn’t bear additional costs arising directlyfrom private ventures. Hence engaging province already governs aspectsrelatedtothedata centerindusty while devising further regulationsrequiredwithinthissector. Hamiltonmustcollaboratewithprovincialofficials&utilityservicesaswellaslocalexpertsfordeterminingthosepreciseobligationsplusidentifyinganyregulatorygapswhennecessary. I’dbackadequate, evidence-basedmeasureswheregapsarefoundwithinmunicipalboundaries. Thisendeavorisn’taboutbeingagainstorfornewdevelopmentbutensuring each plan abidesbyestablishedstandards whilst prioritizingcommunityprotection&demonstrating tangiblebenefits forthecity’sofficials!Paul Fromm Paul Fromm possessesa historyofassociatingwithwhite supremacist groups. Ithas seen him lead variousfar-rightorganizations whilehavingbeendismissedfromteachingroleat Peel District School Board duehispoliticalinvolvement. Runningformayorin Hamiltonmultiple timeshasbeennoted too.
Frommdidnotrespondto CBCHamilton’ssurvey.Scarlett Gillespie Scarlett Gillespie(33)actsasanadvocateforyouth workandhousingaffairswhileholdingpositionoftheexecutive directorfor Sex Workers’Action Program Hamilton
(SWAP-H).(SWAP-H).Do you agreewithcouncil’sdecisiontovote downtheproposedmoratoriumoncentres? No. How should Hamiltonguidedevelopmentsconcerningdatacentres? Thecityneedsaclear frameworkfor datacentersbeforeallowinglargescaleinitiatives. Ibacksite-specificzoningstandards; providingforecastsforprojectedelectricityusage&waterrequirements; enforceableemission/noise/heatregulations; analysesofthegrid/infrastructuralcapacities, responseplansfor emergencies; Indigenous/publicconsultation alongwithtransparencyregardingpermanentjobs, taxrevenuegeneratedandassociatedcostsbeyondpublicexpenditures. Largerhyperscalefacilitiesdifferentiate themselvesfromsmallerresearchfacilities. Whenmajorprojectscreateextraordinary infrastructuredemands, Iwould seekoutcommunity-benefitagreementsaimed mitigating negativeimpacts pluscoveringexpenses sothat residentsarenotsubsidizingprivateschemes. Decisions must bemadeusing evidence-backed methodologies conducted openly!
Davidharrison
David Harrison(38)isafirefighterwhoalso servedinfantryreserviststatusalongside Hamilton’s Argyll&Sutherland Highlanders Of Canadaaswell London Fire Departmentworker.
Do you supportcouncil ‘ s denial regarding thistemporary ban ? I requireanoverarchingunderstanding ; howwillthisbenefit citizenshere ? Whatapproachshouldbewtakenby Hammiltonontopicofestablishingsuchfacilities? Whatdevelopment ?
Andrea Horwath 64 year-old Andrea Horwath currentlyservesasmayorin Hamiltonwhilepreviouslyleading Ontario New Democratic Partybetween2009-2020andsittingas MPPrepresentativeof Hamilton Centrefrom2004-2020 respectively. Horwath failedtocontact CBCHamiltontoward answeringourquestionsignifyingher stance however votedagainstanearliermoratorium July citingthatpositiveopportunities arise givingwaytotheideas surroundingjobgrowth&supportforscientists/research institutions alike leadinghamiltonintoabrightfuture! Inemailcorrespondences Friday, shewrote:”Hamilton’s AIdatasetmessageisn’tintendedfor America’sprogram.”Sheadds,”whatwehavehereispossibilityforexploitingnot-for-profitwork, safeguarding Canada’ssovereigninformationwhilstenablingourresearcherstoaccesscomputationalpowerneededfortacklingissueslikeclimatechangeandhealthcareconcerns”. Thisstepaimsrestoringabrownfieldsite backintousagewithoutburdeningexistingenergyresourcesresponsiblyoperatingwithclosed-loopcoolingsystemsproperly!”
Erin Janus Producer, musician, youtuber filmmaker Erinjanu examineshercommitmenttowardanimal/environmentaladvocacy initiatives alongwith”grassrootscreativeprojects”. Do you concurwithdecisionmadebycounciltowardsthetemporarybanon AIcenter development? Notonlydo Ifeel no need arises requiringadditionalfacilitieslocatedwaterfrontareas! Should Hamilotn implementspecificguidelinesonthematterofthedatacenterestablishment ? Simply put, Hamiltonneeds rejectdatacenterconstructsituations entirely!
Nahalie Xian Yi YanNathalie Xian Yi Yan aged60practicestraditionalchinesemedicine/acupuncture. Sheindicatesinterestincandidatureformayorshipthroughvariousmunicipalandfederal elections since2006. Beingdesignatedvexatiouslitigantfollowingseverallawsuitsresultedin$161k owedlegalfee declarations grantedby Ontario courtin2025. Unsure. Wouldnotwantmayordecisionsrelatingconstructionmattersbasedsolelyuponpolitics/publicpressureorassumptions. Irequiremorecomprehensiveinsightsplusunbiasedexpertadviceprioritisizing whether amoratoriummakesmoresense overall. Alongtermstrategyrequiresconsiderationaroundelectricity consumption, wastedwater usage, environmentsustainability efforts, infrastructurestrengtheningpotential tax revenues-thus ensuringqualifiedexperts supplyadequately substantiated informationhelpful processing factspecificallydedicatedascertainfiguringouthowdifferenttypes/scalesimpactoverallsituationbetter. Inadditiondeterminewhoabsorbsinfra costeffective mannersdone correctly whilst equallyconsideringlongstanding ramifications affectingtaxpayerinterestsbelow minimumacceptablelevels leadingforward. Making finaldecisionswoulddependonthoroughanalysisbasedevidentialproofvalidating citizens’ welfare over time beforepassively agreeing prematurely.# Lastlyhowever Managementoperationsshouldfollowregulatoryframeworkinsteadautomaticallygreenlightinganynewconceptsandpopulatingthe general approvalprocesseswithoutqualitativeinvestigationtakingplace beforehand. Municipalityoughtto enforce necessitating expert assessments coveringpowerrequirementsconsumption characteristicsoccupancy densitylevelsofnoise emissionsrepurposingstrategiesutilizedduringconstruction processes – ultimately gaugingactualreturnsoninvestmentreceivedalongsideapplicabletaxes benefittingwholecity. Populationengagementaccountabilityneedsto governthisactivityspirit!
Thevoters’perspective Speaking Thursday, Bonniedawson-a68-year-oldretiredresidentfrom Ward12-expresseduncertaintytowardtheadvantagesdata centreshouldbring locals. Her maininterests lieintherealworldimpactontheenvironmentalongsideoverall noise productionlevels stemmingfromtheseoperations presented throughout town.n [ text {“I fully supports }”}””” Additionally, shetookawayhopeful affirmationplanstowardsfutureresearchfacilitylocatedat Mc Master Universityyetencouragedcandidatesstrivetoacquiregreaterknowledgeabouttechnicalfacetssurroundingeverythingrelatedtothem.” Dawson believes politiciasneedurgentactionnowrequiringfirmer policiesimplemented proactively underlay necessaryguardrails priorits advancement maturing solutions.” Simone Peng, a32-year-oldwardtwocommunitymemberarguedthatwaycandidates communicateaddressingtopicissueshelpsfosterclarity into priorities evident within leadership capacities observed amongst them through engagements noted previouslyn [ “Itfeelsliketheyaretranslatingwhatsimportant.. iftheyvalueconcernsofferinginsightfulguidanceortreatasthoughonlytheirpersonalbeliefssupremacy matters”] Despite August decisionsmade earlier several councillors provided insights leadingtooppositionagainstamotiontargetedtemporarily haltingdiscussions surroundingproject proposals-these statements circulated privatelycausednumerouscontroversieswherecitizensfeltleftoutsider control acknowledgingpolicydecisions impacting livelihoodsdirectly connected allowingcommunitiesshareinputontarget directives aligned closely meeting societal expectations overall betterment outcomes presented going forward. Clearly Peng indicateddisappointmentassociatedsurroundingunexpected circumstances promising transparencyimproving relationswithin hamiltongovernance itself resultinginexplorationalternativeroutes potentially informing different approaches than typical frameworks acknowledge presently alone lacking reliance towards maintaining integrity community engagement first place standing firmly behind workingclosely engagingindividualsinvested longterm viability clearly indicates need prioritize human elements prioritized above profitdriven motives entailed herein respective endeavors ultimately finalized moving forward.
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Thevoters’perspective Speaking Thursday, Bonniedawson-a68-year-oldretiredresidentfrom Ward12-expresseduncertaintytowardtheadvantagesdata centreshouldbring locals. Her maininterests lieintherealworldimpactontheenvironmentalongsideoverall noise productionlevels stemmingfromtheseoperations presented throughout town.n [ text {“I fully supports }”}””” Additionally, shetookawayhopeful affirmationplanstowardsfutureresearchfacilitylocatedat Mc Master Universityyetencouragedcandidatesstrivetoacquiregreaterknowledgeabouttechnicalfacetssurroundingeverythingrelatedtothem.” Dawson believes politiciasneedurgentactionnowrequiringfirmer policiesimplemented proactively underlay necessaryguardrails priorits advancement maturing solutions.” Simone Peng, a32-year-oldwardtwocommunitymemberarguedthatwaycandidates communicateaddressingtopicissueshelpsfosterclarity into priorities evident within leadership capacities observed amongst them through engagements noted previouslyn [ “Itfeelsliketheyaretranslatingwhatsimportant.. iftheyvalueconcernsofferinginsightfulguidanceortreatasthoughonlytheirpersonalbeliefssupremacy matters”] Despite August decisionsmade earlier several councillors provided insights leadingtooppositionagainstamotiontargetedtemporarily haltingdiscussions surroundingproject proposals-these statements circulated privatelycausednumerouscontroversieswherecitizensfeltleftoutsider control acknowledgingpolicydecisions impacting livelihoodsdirectly connected allowingcommunitiesshareinputontarget directives aligned closely meeting societal expectations overall betterment outcomes presented going forward. Clearly Peng indicateddisappointmentassociatedsurroundingunexpected circumstances promising transparencyimproving relationswithin hamiltongovernance itself resultinginexplorationalternativeroutes potentially informing different approaches than typical frameworks acknowledge presently alone lacking reliance towards maintaining integrity community engagement first place standing firmly behind workingclosely engagingindividualsinvested longterm viability clearly indicates need prioritize human elements prioritized above profitdriven motives entailed herein respective endeavors ultimately finalized moving forward.
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