Are Data Centres Taking Over?

Are Data Centres Taking Over?

From The Rundown by TVO

June 12, 2026 · 29 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of new AI data centres in communities, highlighting public opposition and expert insights.

The federal government has unveiled a two-billion-dollar AI strategy aimed at boosting jobs, skills training, and business growth, alongside plans to build large-scale AI data centres powered by clean energy. But as these projects move into communities, opposition is mounting. Recent protests in Hamilton and an Angus Reid poll showing 68 per cent of Canadians would oppose a data centre near their home raise questions about public buy-in. With roughly 100 data centres already in Ontario, do more bring opportunity or risk? We examine the concerns and separate fact from fiction with Kathleen Kauth of the Advanced Energy Centre at MaRS and Mark Winfield of York University. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Guests: Kathleen Kauth, Mark Winfield

Topics covered

  • data centres
  • AI strategy
  • public opinion
  • clean energy
  • community impact
  • job growth

Keywords

  • data centres
  • AI
  • public opinion
  • clean energy
  • Ontario
  • job growth
  • community protests

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: federal government, AI strategy, Angus Reid, Advanced Energy Centre, MaRS, York University

Places: Hamilton, Canada, Ontario

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