Regional Councillor calls for report on potential impacts of AI data centres
Posted Aug 10, 2026 06:10:59 AM.
Last Updated Aug 10, 2026 03:15:18 PM.
It’s been a hot topic of late: AI data centres and the impact they have on communities and the environment.
On Thursday, Ontario Green Party Leader and Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner called for a moratorium on new AI data centres in the province.
He wants the Doug Ford government to study the data centre’s effects on the environment, energy, health, and jobs.
Here in Waterloo Region, Councillor Colleen James is calling for a similar report with a local focus.
A motion before a regional committee Tuesday calls for staff to look into how data centre development could impact local economic and employment opportunities, infrastructure, and the environment.
Her motion also hopes to have the potential staff report dive into how to keep developers of these large scale projects accountable.
This most notably when it comes to electricity demand, greenhouse gas emissions, responsible operations, and top of mind here locally — water usage and conservation.
Like Schreiner, James is also calling on council to potentially advocate to the province to put a regulatory framework in place for data centre development that “sets clear environmental, resource stewardship, and transparency requirements” as well as “ensures municipalities and existing rate-payers do not face undue costs for servicing data centres.”
If the motion is passed, staff would come back to Region Council with an update by early next year.
The motion is up for discussion Tuesday morning at a regional committee meeting.
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