The Ontario Green Party is asking the provincial government to put a stop to all new artificial intelligence (AI) data centres until we understand more about their effects on the environment, energy supply, public health, and jobs.
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, who also serves as the MPP for Guelph, held a press conference at Queen’s Park on Thursday. He stated that new data centres are being approved throughout the province “without community consultation or safeguards to keep people and the environment safe.”
“There are also serious concerns about who actually benefits from the construction of these AI data centres,” he mentioned, adding that he believes companies are profiting from local water that should be for communities.
Ilham Abdulkadir is part of Wellington Water Watchers and joined Schreiner in calling for a pause on these developments.
“These facilities may power our digital world, but the infrastructure behind them is deeply physical. It uses land, consumes energy and has an enormous thirst for water,” she said.
Shelly Agius, co-chair of the Toronto chapter of the Council of Canadians, also backed the Green Party’s request for a pause and supported Mississauga councillors’ decision to delay any approvals for AI data centres for one year.
“The rest of Ontario should be following that lead, not racing ahead of it,” Agius said.
Ontario municipalities face decisions
Other Ontario municipalities considering how to approach AI data centres include:
WATCH | Data centre moratorium vote in Hamilton draws protesters: :
Hamilton vote highlights backlash to AI data centres
Hamilton council voted Wednesday on whether it should pause the development of new data centres. Shion Guha, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto, says this vote highlights growing tension between government technology promises and community concerns.
In Sault Ste. Marie, residents have started a petition against plans for a new data centre set to begin construction after approval in December.
In Armour Township, southeast of Sudbury, plans were scrapped by a developer looking to build a two-megawatt AI data centre in June due to public opposition.
Projects must help local economy: province
Evan Robinson is the senior issues manager and press secretary for Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli.
In a statement to , he explained that the Ontario government ensures “no digital infrastructure project will proceed unless it contributes to the local economy and the company commits to paying the full cost of energy.”
He noted that legislation allows them to prevent projects from connecting to power if companies don’t meet expectations.
“We will continue working with municipalities, companies, and communities as we finalize a digital infrastructure framework that supports job creation, ensures data security, and protects rate payers,” Robinson said.
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