Majority of Canadians oppose government support for AI data centres, poll shows

A majority of Canadians are opposed to government support for the construction of artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, according to a recent poll conducted by Nanos Research for The Globe and Mail. The survey, which included responses from 1,104 Canadians in late July, revealed that 38 per cent of participants expressed opposition to financial incentives for data centre development, while an additional 26 per cent showed some degree of resistance. Conversely, six per cent of respondents supported such incentives, and 22 per cent somewhat endorsed them. The push for AI data centres has intensified in several provinces, including British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario, where local communities have raised concerns about the environmental and energy-related impacts of these facilities. Protests have emerged in response to proposed projects, with residents questioning both the sustainability of such developments and their long-term economic value. Some areas have also voiced apprehensions about the potential for increased water usage and reliance on fossil fuel-based energy systems to power these operations. The federal government has actively promoted the expansion of AI data centres as part of its broader strategy to bolster digital infrastructure. In 2024, the Liberal government unveiled a spending package allocating $700 million for building and expanding AI data centres and up to $1 billion for new public-sector computing infrastructure. A separate initiative supports the development of large-scale data centres, those requiring at least 100 megawatts of electricity, with varying levels of assistance depending on the specific project. This can include direct financial aid or agreements to purchase computing capacity. Leela Polushin, the press secretary for federal AI Minister Evan Solomon, emphasized that the government does not intend to offer blanket subsidies for data centre development. She stated that any federal involvement must clearly serve the public interest and address gaps that the private sector alone cannot fill. “Canada needs strategic AI infrastructure, but projects seeking federal participation must meet a much higher standard of public benefit and responsible development,” she explained. The Nanos survey further highlighted generational differences in attitudes toward AI data centres. Among individuals aged 18 to 34, 43.1 per cent expressed opposition to government incentives, compared to lower percentages in older age groups. Nik Nanos, founder of Nanos Research, noted that younger Canadians, who may feel directly affected by technological shifts, often question whether such investments risk displacing jobs or undermining future employment opportunities. Respondents identified high electricity demand, environmental degradation, and excessive water consumption as primary concerns. Some data centre designs require substantial volumes of water for cooling, while others rely on alternative methods that use significantly less. Additionally, the construction of new energy infrastructure, such as natural gas-powered plants, raises further worries about resource depletion and ecological damage. Despite these reservations, 15 per cent of respondents believed AI data centres would positively influence the economy, with an additional 29 per cent indicating a somewhat positive outlook. A third of participants, however, anticipated either fully or partially negative consequences. When asked about potential benefits, 22 per cent cited job creation, while 8 per cent pointed to economic growth. Approximately 13 per cent of respondents did not see any advantages from such developments. The federal government argues that promoting AI data centres enhances national digital sovereignty, ensuring greater control over critical infrastructure that supports cloud computing and AI technologies. However, the Nanos survey suggests that this rationale has not resonated strongly with the general population. Only 8.2 per cent of respondents ranked data sovereignty as a key benefit, with 6.5 per cent citing similar concerns.