Waterloo Region councillors will be learning more about what it means if the region eventually hosts data centres. Councillor Colleen James put forward the motion at Tuesday’s Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development Committee. Several passionate delegates brought forward their concerns about how the region could be impacted by the infrastructure that plays a large role in the prevalence of artificial intelligence. “The motion I have on the floor is regarding information for data centres, community safeguards and really it is about getting as much information as possible. The motion is very comprehensive,” James said. “We heard from delegates earlier today that it still isn’t as comprehensive as it should be.” However, before the motion was voted on, James wanted to make one thing very clear.“This is not about approving any data centre, there is nothing on the floor for that. Council is not making a decision about a data centre. I think that got lost in translation somewhere, the assumption that there’s a data centre proposed on the floor.” James said she has been getting emails for weeks from concerned residents, driving home the importance of council’s education on the matter. “My ask was for, and is for, information around the impact of these data centres that have existed, but now we’re seeing something on a greater scale,” James said. “Yes, there is an environmental impact. [We are] very readily aware of that. We are in a situation where water is a constant discussion here. It is not about economic benefits, but that is an argument that people make. They say that these centres will have an economic benefit on the community – well, I want to know how. What’s the short-term benefit versus the long-term, and is there really a benefit?” Councillor Pam Wolf, who seconded the motion, highlighted recent concerns surrounding a mysterious substance found near a data centre in Cambridge. “Recent concerns in Cambridge, although ultimately linked to a bacterial bloom and not a data centre, highlighted the anxiety residents feel when there is uncertainty about the environmental impacts and a lack of clear regulations,” Wolf said. “People want confidence that their water resources and natural environment are being protected.” Committee members unanimously voted in favour of the motion. A staff report is expected to be ready within the first quarter of 2027. “I would not suggest that it would be an exhaustive overview, but I think that we can flag the main items that are of concerns, particularly to the community and to local and regional government,” said Rod Regier, commissioner and planning, development and legislative services with Waterloo Region. He also said staff had already started researching data centres due to the high level of interest in the subject.
