Data Centres: Mississauga Needs to Get This Right.

When I spoke with residents who live near the proposed data centre, one concern came up again and again: What will this mean for our neighbourhood? Residents were asking whether this particular project makes sense for Mississauga, and whether residents would be the ones left dealing with the consequences.

Artificial intelligence is changing the world, and data centres are an important part of that future. But that doesn't mean every proposal is right for Mississauga.

An American company has proposed building a 200,000-square-foot hyperscale data centre in Meadowvale. This isn't like the smaller data centres our city has hosted for years. This facility would consume enormous amounts of electricity, require significant infrastructure, and occupy valuable commercial lands while creating relatively few permanent jobs.

I have spoken directly with residents, and the message is clear: people have serious concerns about the impact this project could have on our neighbourhoods, our electricity grid, and our city's future. Those concerns deserve to be taken seriously.

Our electricity system is already under pressure, and a facility of this size would require enough power to supply more than 100,000 homes. While the operator pays for its electricity, the infrastructure needed to support this level of demand affects all of us. Residents also raised important questions about heat, noise, and the long-term impacts on the surrounding community that have yet to be adequately addressed.

There is also a broader economic question. Commercial lands are one of Mississauga's most valuable assets. We should be using them to attract businesses that create meaningful jobs, strengthen our local economy, and support long-term prosperity. According to the proposal, this facility would generate fewer than 70 permanent jobs while occupying a significant amount of commercial land.

I believe we need to pause new hyperscale data centres until we have the guardrails in place to protect Mississauga. Until Mississauga has clear policies that address energy capacity, environmental impacts, infrastructure costs, and land-use priorities, we should place a moratorium on new hyperscale data centres. Innovation should not come at the expense of responsible planning.

I will support a moratorium on hyperscale data centres while we establish the guardrails needed to protect our city. We can embrace new technology while ensuring it serves the public interest.

Mississauga's future should be shaped by thoughtful planning, sustainable growth, and investments that put residents first. That's the approach I will continue to fight for.