N.S. premier’s office scolds professor over comments on AI data centre

The office of Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston has complained to a Toronto university professor for expressing concerns about a proposed artificial intelligence data centre. Sibo Chen, an associate professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, gave a media interview stating that public worries about the data centre's water usage and potential electricity rate hikes were valid.

The Premier's communications adviser, William Burns, deemed Chen's "slanted comments" irresponsible and lacking research on the local community. Chen shared the complaint with The Canadian Press, suggesting it showed the government's attempt to intimidate him. Burns later informed Chen that the government would not support a project raising power rates to customers and highlighted another CBC interview where a county warden explained provisions to protect residents and limit water usage.

Burns' statement implied that the government wanted citizens not to worry about the project. Chen, who researches environmental controversies, explained that his recent focus on AI data centres and their environmental impacts in Canada led him to express concerns. He believes the Nova Scotia government has not adequately informed the public about the proposed data centre, and he understands Nova Scotians' worries.