Hamilton moves toward a vote on a data centre moratorium

Hamilton is nearing a council vote on a oneyear pause on new data centres, a proposal that would make it the first city in Canada to adopt such a measure. Supporters say the moratorium would give the city time to create rules for projects tied to the artificial intelligence boom, while critics warn it could discourage investment and affect smaller research facilities. The debate has intensified around the Steelport redevelopment on Hamilton’s waterfront, where residents and activists have raised concerns about electricity demand, water use, noise and heat. The developer, Slate Asset Management, has appealed a city decision that rejected its request related to land for a possible data centre campus. The issue is drawing attention beyond Hamilton, with other Canadian cities also considering similar proposals. The discussion comes as data centre demand grows across Ontario, and provincial and city officials weigh how to balance economic development with local infrastructure and environmental concerns.