Victoria Councillors Seek Research on AI Data Centre Impacts

Victoria councillors Dave Thompson and Jeremy Caradonna have requested that the Capital Regional District's regional environmental committee research the potential impacts of AI data centres. The initiative seeks to identify consequences regarding land use, utilities, and the environment to establish regulatory policy options for the Capital Region.

This request comes in response to a federal national AI strategy released by the Treasury Board of Canada, which the councillors argue fails to include protections for the climate and water or address how data centres affect utility bills. Although no AI data centres have been proposed within the Capital Regional District, the councillors noted that similar projects have appeared in other parts of British Columbia.

In a broader effort to secure oversight, Victoria has submitted motions to the Union of BC Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. These motions urge provincial and federal governments to classify artificial intelligence as a national security threat and collaborate on the implementation of enforceable regulations.