Alberta's Smith to take part in AI data centre town hall as NDP calls for moratorium

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith joined a virtual town hall on AI data centre development Thursday, as the Opposition NDP called for a moratorium on new approvals until stricter rules are in place. The government has faced criticism over environmental and water concerns, and recently rejected a project in Olds over proximity to homes. Smith announced in July that Meta plans a $13-billion campus north of Edmonton.

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith was set Thursday night to take part in a virtual town hall about developing artificial intelligence data centres in the province, hours after the Opposition called for a moratorium on the projects. The town hall was to be the third of four that the government has organized to tell Albertans about its approach to attracting and regulating the major computing facilities and hear feedback. At the first two events, Technology Minister Nate Glubish was hit with criticism and demands for safeguards from locals. Some who spoke said they don't trust the government to address environmental risks or water usage concerns. The virtual town hall was the only one the premier was scheduled to join. The Opposition NDP said Thursday there shouldn't be any new data centre approvals until stricter rules are put in place. It said the United Conservative Party government has rushed ahead and rubber-stamped projects without clear guidelines or first hearing the concerns of Albertans. Smith's government has been trying to position Alberta as an ideal destination for data centres, saying they could generate new jobs and billions in royalties and taxes for the province. In July, Smith announced the province is welcoming tech giant Meta's proposed $13-billion campus north of Edmonton. Smith told reporters Wednesday that the town halls are about finding "blind spots" in the government's existing rules for development. She said the government has heard the concerns about water use and the need to protect farming communities from having data centres as neighbours. "I'm sure that we'll hear a few more, but we're doing the town halls so that we can make adjustments if we need to." Smith said the government is already considering how it comes up with guidance for companies to use the latest technology to limit water use, as well as specific rules for how close a data centre can be to residential areas. A data centre project proposed in the town of Olds, north of Calgary, was rejected last week by a provincial regulator over proximity to homes. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said the province needs clear rules around setbacks and water use. Projects should also be required to come with significant community benefits, permanent jobs and life-cycle plans for when facilities run their course, he said. They're the concerns his party heard most when it hosted its own data centre town halls over the summer. "The UCP failed to create a process that Albertans can have confidence in," Nenshi said.