Canadians Voice Concern Over AI Data Center Expansion
An recent Leger poll found that a large majority of Canadians fear that artificial‑intelligence data centers could drive up their electricity bills and damage the environment.
Public Fear of Rising Energy Costs
Eighty‑one percent of respondents said they were worried that data centers might cause spikes in household electricity bills.
Environmental Concerns
Seventy‑nine percent expressed worry about the environmental impact, citing high electricity and water use and greenhouse‑gas emissions.
Views on Data Sovereignty
When asked whether building data centers to support Canadian AI services was a good idea, 46 percent answered yes, while 37 percent said it would be a bad thing.
Provincial Support Is Mixed
Opinions were also split when respondents considered building data centers in their own provinces: 44 percent would support the development, and 42 percent would oppose it.
How Power Should Be Supplied
More than half of those surveyed – 58 percent – said provincial governments or electric utilities should provide power for AI data centers. A third of respondents said companies should bear the full cost of electricity and infrastructure, and another 31 percent argued that data‑center firms should generate their own energy and not rely on public electricity.
Expansion Plans and Provincial Opposition
Plans are under way to dramatically increase data‑center capacity, with most new facilities slated for Alberta, where natural‑gas plants could supply electricity instead of the grid. Public opposition has surfaced nationwide, including Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew’s rejection in June of a massive data‑center project southeast of Winnipeg.
