Ontario Green Party leader wants moratorium on AI data centres
Posted Aug 6, 2026 02:56:18 PM.
Last Updated Aug 6, 2026 05:44:48 PM.
Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner is calling for a moratorium on new AI data centres in the province.
Schreiner made the announcement at Queen’s Park on Thursday morning.
“There are serious concerns with AI data centres, including the risks they pose to our air and water, the amount of energy they consume and their economic impact on our communities,” Schreiner said.
He wants the Doug Ford government to study the data centre’s effects on the environment, energy, health, and jobs.
Schreiner’s also calling for provincial regulations to be introduced based on the findings.
“The Ford government has not yet put proper safeguards in place to ensure that the construction of these data centres won’t harm our communities, and that any benefits are for community members and workers, not American big-tech billionaires.”
Schreiner was joined by Ilham Abdulkadir with the Wellington Water Watchers and Shelly Agius, the co-chair of the Toronto chapter of The Council of Canadians.
Their raised concerns come as more and more data centres begin operating in Ontario, including one in Cambridge that recently made headlines due to a reported spill of an odorous milky substance in a stormwater pond that’s believed to be due to a bacterial bloom.
The Ford government responded to Schreiner’s comments in a statement to CityNews Kitchener.
“Our government is ensuring that any investment made in the province delivers lasting prosperity for Ontario’s workers, businesses, and economy. No digital infrastructure project will proceed unless it contributes to the local economy and the company commits to paying the full cost of energy,” said Evan Robinson, spokesperson for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
“As part of the actions taken to protect families and ratepayers, our government has passed legislation that puts in place clear guardrails and gives Ontario the authority to prevent projects from connecting to the grid if they fail to meet these expectations.”
Robinson said the Ford government will continue to work with municipalities, companies, and communities as they finalize a digital infrastructure framework that supports job creation, ensures data security, and protects ratepayers.
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