Residents demand moratorium on Toronto data centre projects as Mississauga votes to block them

Residents are demanding a one-year moratorium on two proposed data centre projects in Toronto as a neighbouring city voted to pause all such developments.

On Wednesday, Mississauga council approved a data centre moratorium while the city studies their impact and how they would be regulated. The same day, protesters gathered outside Toronto City Hall ahead of a multi-day council meeting expected to weigh motions seeking a closer look at the impacts of two data centre projects proposed in Etobicoke and Scarborough.

Demonstrators emphasized the climate implications of the proposed projects, especially as Toronto endures heat waves and heavy wildfire smoke. Lubaba Gemma said temperatures were scorching when she attended a community meeting for the east Toronto project, and the company didn't show up to answer residents' questions. "We don't have any clarity on whether there are any economic benefits," she said. "Rather, we've seen a private developer can come in and make a private contract with the city without consultation from the community."

Coun. Parthi Kandavel, who represents Scarborough Southwest, is asking the city to consider environmental and noise impacts of a proposed STACK Infrastructure data centre expansion on Danforth Avenue. More than 100 residents attended a community meeting about the expansion. Kandavel wants clarity about local jobs and tax benefits, and is questioning whether Canadian institutions would have guaranteed access to data, noting STACK is U.S.-owned.

Coun. Vincent Crisanti, representing Etobicoke North, is similarly asking the city to weigh environmental, noise and water consumption concerns that could come with Microsoft's proposed data centre at 48 Lowe's Place. He is urging municipal staff to investigate additional strategies to mitigate residents' concerns as more data centres are constructed in the city.