Pause New AI Data Centres in Ontario

Take the Power Back: Pause New AI Data Centres in Ontario

AI data centres are going up around Ontario, and there are no rules to keep our communities safe. Not on where they go. Not on how much water they take, how much noise they make, or who pays to power them.

The biggest of these buildings can use millions of litres of water a day. Ontario has one of them today, and about a hundred more are being planned across Canada.

Many will run on power made by burning gas, and some companies want gas plants on site. Ontario’s energy minister says they have to bring their own power. But that’s not written down in any law, and it means little if the power comes from a gas plant next door.

Meanwhile, communities are worried about impacts on jobs, on land use, on pollution and so much more. And the Ford government has no answers

That’s why Ontario Greens are calling for a moratorium on AI data centres until we can fully understand and regulate their impacts on our communities:

Pause the construction of new AI data centres until we know what they do to our water, our power, our health and our jobs.
Write real rules on water, power, emissions, noise and land use, before anything gets approved.
Give communities a real say in where these buildings go.
Make the industry pay its own way, so hydro customers aren’t covering the cost of the power these buildings need.
Make sure the benefits go to workers and families, not to big tech.

This is about putting communities over corporations, and taking back some of the power that has been taken from us.

It is up to us to protect the people and places we love.

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Send a message to Premier Ford, Minister McCarthy, and Minister Lecce.

I am writing to demand that your government pause the construction of new AI data centres until we know what they do to our water, our power, our health and our jobs. Ontario’s water, power and land belong to the people of this province. If corporations are going to use them at this scale, the public should set the terms and the public should benefit. Neither is happening. Ontario has no rules for AI data centres. Nothing says where they can go, how much water they can take, how much noise they can make, or who pays to bring them power. The rules are being written now, without the studies that would tell anyone whether these projects are safe for the communities that host them. You have said data centres must bring their own power. On its own, that is not protection. If a company does it by building a gas plant on site, Ontario gets more emissions and a neighbourhood gets dirtier air. Put a real standard in law, and make clear that bringing your own power cannot mean burning more gas. Seventy-one per cent of Ontarians would say no to a data centre near their home. Eighty per cent want rules first. We, the undersigned, ask the Government of Ontario to pause new AI data centres until the effects on the environment, energy, health and jobs are studied and regulated, and the findings made public. This is about putting communities over corporations. People over profits.

You can submit this letter as-is or change it to reflect your own priorities. Your comment will be forwarded with the subject line “Take the Power Back: Pause New AI Data Centres in Ontario”, including your name, email and postal code to Premier Ford, Minister McCarthy, and Minister Lecce.. You will also be added to the GPO mailing list but you can unsubscribe at any time.