The Green Party of Ontario is calling on the provincial government to pause all new AI data centres until more is known about their impact on the environment, energy grid, people's health and jobs. Party Leader Mike Schreiner, who is also the MPP for Guelph, held a press conference at Queen's Park on Thursday saying new data centres are being approved across 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 said, adding he believes corporations are benefitting from local water meant for communities.
Concerns over water and energy use
Ilham Abdulkadir, with the group Wellington Water Watchers, joined Schreiner in his call for a moratorium. "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 supported the Green's call for a moratorium and a decision by Mississauga councillors to pause any approvals on AI data centres for one year. "The rest of Ontario should be following that lead, not racing ahead of it," she said.
Municipalities weigh local decisions
Other Ontario municipalities are grappling with how to handle AI data centre proposals. Essex County councillors discussed the issue this week. Toronto residents have called on council to pause developments for a year. Councillors in Hamilton and Burlington voted against temporary bans last month.
In Sault Ste. Marie, a petition has been started by people upset that construction of a new data centre is set to begin after the project was approved in December. In Armour Township, southeast of Sudbury, a developer withdrew plans to build a two-megawatt AI data centre in June after public opposition.
These local debates are directly relevant to public sector employees. For those in policy roles, the AI Learning Path for Policy Makers covers how to evaluate infrastructure proposals and community impacts.
Province defends approval process
Evan Robinson, senior issues manager and press secretary for Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli, said in a statement 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."
Robinson noted the provincial government passed legislation that gives it authority to prevent projects from connecting to the power grid if companies fail to meet expectations. "We will continue to work with municipalities, companies, and communities as we finalize a digital infrastructure framework that supports job creation, ensures data security, and protects ratepayers," he said.
For government professionals tracking these developments, the province's framework will determine how much oversight municipalities retain over AI for Government projects.
Why this matters for government professionals
The dispute highlights a growing tension between economic development and regulatory oversight. Municipal staff and provincial policymakers will need to assess competing claims about job creation, energy costs, and environmental impact. The outcome of Ontario's digital infrastructure framework will set a precedent for how other provinces balance AI investment against community concerns.
Your membership also unlocks:
