‘Call them out’: AI data centres becoming an Ontario municipal election issue

AI data centres have become a topic of discussion in Ontario municipal elections. Grassroots groups are urging candidates to advocate for stricter regulations. Several candidates from the Greater Toronto Area have signed a pledge to oppose any data centres that do not meet strict oversight and regulatory standards. Stop the Datacentre, an advocacy group, is seeking additional signatories before the municipal elections later this month.

The pledge outlines specific conditions for candidates to support, including strict regulations and oversight for data centres. The pledge has garnered support from incumbents in Mississauga and Hamilton, cities that have previously debated the impact of data centres. However, the province's AI data centre playbook, released in August, is not binding legislation and raises questions about the rules that will govern data centres.

Some candidates, like Mississauga Ward 9 councillor Martin Reid, have concerns about the potential impact on the environment, safety, and community benefits. Reid's concerns include the lack of a land use designation for the proposed data centre site and the absence of a fire study for the building that would house the data centre.

Prologis, the U.S.-based company behind the proposed development, maintains its commitment to the project and estimates it will create 63 jobs. Tsergas, who initiated the pledge, aims to hold candidates accountable for their stance on the issue, emphasizing the need for clarity on the regulations that will govern these developments.