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St. ALBERT — Alberta’s New Democrats are raising concerns about the province’s approach to approving artificial intelligence data centres after hosting a public meeting in St. Albert.
The Opposition said hundreds of residents attended Tuesday evening’s event to share what the party described as concerns over consultation, environmental oversight and the potential impacts of large-scale AI infrastructure projects.
Deputy NDP Leader Rakhi Pancholi alleged the United Conservative government has approved projects without adequately consulting affected communities. She said the party supports investment and job creation but argued major developments should be transparent, serve the public interest and include community input.
According to the NDP, residents at the meeting questioned what regulatory processes are in place for AI data centres and raised concerns about land use, water consumption, electricity costs, financial risks and the number of permanent jobs expected once construction is complete.
Technology and Innovation critic Nathan Ip said the concerns raised during the meeting highlight the need for greater public consultation before major projects are approved.
The Opposition said feedback gathered during its provincewide listening tour will help shape its policy on AI data centres.
The United Conservative government has previously said Alberta’s “bring your own power” policy requires large data centre projects to build or fund their own electricity generation. The province has also launched an AI Data Centre Concierge Program and a new public information website outlining its approach to attracting investment while streamlining approvals.
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