Hamilton council poised to vote on Canada's first data centre moratorium

Hamilton is expected to vote today on whether to become the first city in Canada to put a temporary pause on new data centres, according to reports from panow.com and TownAndCountryToday. The vote comes after a little-known city committee rejected a developer's application to split off part of Steelport, a sprawling industrial harbourfront property, for a possible data centre campus, Narcity reported.

3 sources

NarcityHamilton is on the verge of a data centre moratorium vote. Others are taking notice.TownAndCountryTodayWill Hamilton hit pause on data centres? Council set to vote on moratoriumpanow.comWill Hamilton hit pause on data centres? Council set to vote on moratorium

Danielle Sheahan, a Hamilton psychotherapist who helps run an Instagram account pushing back on data centres, said she was "shocked" by the committee's decision in early June. "It was like the first moment I think I've actually felt hope in about 10 years," :: Narcity Sheahan, a former tech worker who became a psychotherapist after she said she was laid off from her job, told Narcity the outcome hit harder than she expected.

The moratorium vote comes as local lawmakers across the country wrestle with noise, energy and water concerns around a new wave of data centres powering the boom in artificial intelligence, Medicine Hat News reported. Hamilton's decision is being watched by other municipalities facing similar pressures.

Medicine Hat NewsWill Hamilton hit pause on data centres? Council set to vote on moratorium