Posthaste: Data centre anger is boiling over in Canada and here’s where opposition is highest

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Opposition to data centres in Alberta and Saskatchewan, where projects are underway or proposed, stands at 64 per cent and 70 per cent. Photo by Brent Calver /PostmediaTHIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountCanadians don’t often agree about a lot of things, but they seem to when it comes to data centres, with a majority opposing large buildouts just as construction begins across the country, according to a new poll by the Angus Reid Institute.The poll, conducted Sept. 8 to 16 among about 4,400 adults, said 64 per cent think their provincial governments should limit large data centre proliferation, while 18 per cent said governments should encourage it.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Opposition to data centres in Alberta and Saskatchewan, where projects are underway or proposed, stands at 64 per cent and 70 per cent, respectively, but the greatest level of opposition was 72 per cent in Manitoba and the Atlantic region.Breaking business news, incisive views, must-reads and market signals. Weekdays by 9 a.m.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Posthaste will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againOpposition in Quebec was the lowest at 50 per cent, which Angus Reid attributed to the province’s established artificial intelligence research and technology sectors.About half of those opposed cited water usage as their prime concern, followed by electricity consumption and the fear that higher costs for power will fall onto households and businesses. They also believe data centres will mostly benefit the companies that own them, not the local communities.Those who support data centres cite the expected economic benefits, including jobs, and increased Canadian competitiveness in AI.Elsewhere, 70 per cent of Americans oppose the construction of a data centre in their local community, citing water usage and electricity costs, the environment and the effects of the centre on the local quality of life, according to a Gallup Inc. poll earlier this year.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.“Overcoming this opposition stands as a major hurdle in the expansion of AI computing,” Gallup said.Another hurdle in Canada is that some municipal governments are voting on moratoriums for data centre construction.But Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to make Canada a global player in AI.The federal government in June released its national AI strategy, called AI for All, which forecasts global data centre electricity demand to more than double by 2030.It said Canada is a natural to serve that demand given a “clean, predictable electricity grid” and “a northern climate that reduces the cost and energy intensity of cooling data centres.” The government has also pledged $2 billion in investments for Canadian AI compute capacity.But the data centre buildout is just ramping up in Canada.Meta Platforms Inc. has started constructing a $13-billion data centre just north of Edmonton that also includes its own natural-gas power plant, while BCE Inc. is seeking to expand its Saskatchewan artificial intelligence data centre campus, an investment reportedly worth $52.5 billion.This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.A series of large data-centre proposals, however, were highlighted at the Canada Investment Summit last month, including a potential $14.5-billion campus in Alberta by Norway-headquartered BW Velora.Ottawa last month released its responsible data centre principles, which say new data centres must include “lasting benefit” for local communities, must not offload electricity costs onto Canadians and must minimize water use and environmental impacts.Posthaste is taking a break for the holiday, but will be back in your inbox on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Have a happy Thanksgiving. Sign up here to get Posthaste delivered straight to your inbox.Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Corpay, talks to Larysa Harapyn at the Financial Post about the forces driving currency markets and how the Canadian dollar is standing up to the greenback.Watch the interview here.Today’s Data: Job numbers for Canada for September. University of Michigan consumer sentiment indexEarnings: New Horizon Aircraft Ltd., MTY Food Group Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Ali is getting married soon, but is worried that in the case of a divorce, 50 per cent of his assets will go to his spouse. He is wondering if there is anything he can do to protect his holdings, possibly by keeping them outside of Canada, should he and his soon-to-be wife split up. Keep reading FP Answers here to find out more.The FP Atlantic Economic Report takes you behind the scenes of the business world in Atlantic Canada. 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Plus check his mortgage rate page for Canada’s lowest national mortgage rates, updated daily.Financial Post on YouTubeVisit the Financial Post’s YouTube channel for interviews with Canada’s leading experts in business, economics, housing, the energy sector and more.Today’s Posthaste was written by Gigi Suhanic with additional reporting from Financial Post staff and Bloomberg.Have a story idea, pitch, embargoed report, or a suggestion for this newsletter? Email us at posthaste@postmedia.com.Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the business news you need to know — add financialpost.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters hereThis advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.