Ontario Municipalities Demand Role in AI Data Centre Approvals

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) has requested that the provincial government maintain municipal involvement in the approval process for AI data centres. In a submission regarding the government's proposed Data Centre Playbook, the AMO called for a collaborative review process involving Indigenous communities, utility providers, and municipalities to address public skepticism and ensure projects are a right fit for their communities.

Local authorities are seeking clearer zoning definitions and environmental mitigation standards. They specifically requested the closure of a loophole that currently allows colleges and universities to bypass municipal permission. Additionally, municipalities expressed concerns regarding property tax assessments and the limited economic benefits these facilities bring to local areas.

Premier Doug Ford stated the province is proceeding full steam ahead with data centre implementation, though he noted the government maintains strict parameters for these projects. This push for expansion continues despite warnings from AI industry leaders, such as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who has advocated for slowing the pace of AI capability improvements due to safety risks.