Regulate AI data centres

AI summary

The petitioners say AI data centres are being built across Canada with limited community involvement and raise concerns about noise, water pollution, strain on water and energy systems, potential job losses, lack of industry dialogue, and risks to Canada’s digital sovereignty. They call on the Government of Canada to end incentives and permit accelerations for AI data centres; revoke permits not transparently vetted by local communities; commission a public study of negative externalities; require community-initiated, transparent approval processes; and subject AI products to taxation and enforceable regulation on safety, transparency, and power and water use. The petition does not include a government response.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the Government of Canada AI data centres are being constructed across Canada with high secrecy and low community involvement; AI data centres are known to cause noise and water pollution, and strain water reservoirs and energy grids; The buildout of AI infrastructure is concurrent with proponents of AI arguing for its potential to eliminate significant numbers of jobs across society, at a time when Canadians are struggling with job security; Industrial proponents of AI data centres have avoided good faith dialogue and collaboration to resolve the societal implications of their products and infrastructure; and AI adoption and infrastructure are undermining Canada's digital sovereignty, with public services and local AI infrastructure committed to foreign AI products. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Cease all incentives, subsidies, and permit accelerations for AI data centres; 2. Revoke permits and supports for AI data centre projects that have not been rigorously and transparently vetted by the local community; 3. Commission a detailed study for public release on negative externalities associated with existing AI data centres in Canada and elsewhere; 4. Require that all AI infrastructure projects be initiated and sought out by local communities, and be put through a transparent and democratic approval process; and 5. Subject AI products to genuine taxes as well as enforceable regulations around safety, transparency, and power and water use effectiveness.

Government response

No government response is available yet.