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Ontario Green Party Leader Wants a Pause on AI Data Centres
Schreiner says the province should wait until it studies impacts on water, energy, health and jobs before approving more facilities.
- On Thursday, Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner called for a provincial moratorium on new AI data centers at Queen's Park, citing concerns over environmental impacts and inadequate public consultation.
- Schreiner criticized the provincial government's reliance on Ministerial Zoning Orders to bypass local planning, arguing that municipalities are "on the hook to try and develop it themselves" without specific provincial regulations.
- Ilham Abdulkadir of the Water Watchers warned that data centers have an "enormous thirst for water" to cool computing systems, straining public infrastructure designed for communities, schools, and hospitals.
- Evan Robinson, spokesperson for the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, responded that the government ensures projects contribute to the local economy and commit to paying full energy costs.
- While the province finalizes a digital infrastructure framework, municipalities continue navigating land-use decisions, with some councils implementing temporary pauses on new data center developments amid the ongoing AI expansion.
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Green Party leader calls on Ontario to pause all new AI data centres in province
The Green Party of Ontario has called on the province to place a moratorium on all new AI data centres until more is known about their impact on the environment, energy grid, people's health and jobs. The province says new centres aren't approved unless unless it contributes to the local economy.
·Ottawa, Canada
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Guelph TodayReposted by 
StratfordToday.ca
StratfordToday.caSchreiner calls for moratorium on AI data centres
Until provincial regulations can be put in place
·Guelph, Canada
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Total News Sources9
Leaning Left6Leaning Right0Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution86% Left
Bias Distribution
- 86% of the sources lean Left
86% Left
L 86%
14%
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