{"id":733265,"date":"2026-06-13T02:19:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T02:19:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/733265\/"},"modified":"2026-06-13T02:19:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T02:19:31","slug":"protesters-rally-for-moratorium-on-ai-data-centres-in-n-b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/733265\/","title":{"rendered":"Protesters rally for moratorium on AI data centres in N.B."},"content":{"rendered":"

Breadcrumb Trail Links<\/p>\n

New Brunswick<\/a>News<\/a>Saint John & South<\/a>The Issues<\/a>Energy & Environment<\/a><\/p>\n

Greens unable to secure unanimous consent for vote on moratorium motion to occur<\/p>\n

Published Jun 11, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 12\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 5 minute read<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n

\"protest\"Leah Leavitt, of St. George, marches outside of the New Brunswick legislature Thursday. Dozens of protesters gathered to call for a moratorium on the development of AI data centres in New Brunswick. BARBARA SIMPSON\/BRUNSWICK NEWSArticle content<\/p>\n

Zoe Ritchie knows firsthand the footprint that technology can leave on the environment.<\/p>\n

Advertisement 2<\/p>\n

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n

\"Telegraph-Journal\"<\/p>\n

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS<\/p>\n

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n

Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n

Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n

REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n

Create an account or sign in to keep reading.<\/p>\n

Access articles from across Canada with one account.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite journalists.<\/p>\n

THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n

Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n

Article content<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old Fredericton electronics engineering technologist is heavily involved with the e-waste industry as part of her job, overseeing, as she describes, the \u201cdeaths of many computers.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s through this tech-sector lens that Ritchie has arrived at the conclusion that artificial intelligence (AI) data centres don\u2019t have a place in New Brunswick.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re extremely wasteful operations,\u201d said Ritchie, who grew up in Saint John where a 390-megawatt AI data centre is proposed for the city\u2019s Spruce Lake Industrial Park.<\/p>\n

\"Protester Zoe Ritchie, 29, of Fredericton, works in the technology sector. She says AI data centres are \u201cextremely wasteful operations\u201d that don\u2019t deliver as many new jobs as advertised. Photo by Barbara Simpson\/Brunswick News<\/p>\n

The proposed hyperscale data centre, which is currently undergoing a provincial environmental impact assessment, is expected to be powered in part by an on-site, natural gas-fired generation facility but also through the NB Power grid, according to EIA documents.<\/p>\n

The project is expected to need 200 megawatts from NB Power, which recently secured regulatory approval for a 400-megawatt natural gas plant to be built in Tantramar to deal with the province\u2019s looming energy shortfall.<\/p>\n

\"opening<\/p>\n

Morning Email Telegraph-Journal<\/p>\n

A clear and concise roundup to start your weekday morning.<\/p>\n

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n

Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n

A welcome email is on its way. If you don’t see it, please check your junk folder.<\/p>\n

The next issue of Morning Email Telegraph-Journal will soon be in your inbox.<\/p>\n

Article content<\/p>\n

Advertisement 3<\/p>\n

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n

Article content<\/p>\n

\u201c(These data centres) take a large amount of our power, so I\u2019m 100 per cent against a data centre in New Brunswick, especially in my hometown,\u201d said Ritchie, who took her opposition to the New Brunswick legislature this week.<\/p>\n

More than 150 people marched outside of the legislature Thursday, showing support for a Green Party motion calling for an immediate moratorium on the current and future development of AI data centres in the province.<\/p>\n

Waving signs and ringing cowbells, marchers drew attention Thursday to a variety of environmental and health concerns they\u2019ve identified with data centres.<\/p>\n

Among those concerns include the demand that AI data centres place on energy and water systems, the potential destruction of natural habitat and pollution<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201c(These data centres) are about as unenvironmental as you can get, and we understand there\u2019s a worldwide environmental crisis, which is the worst problem we\u2019re facing,\u201d said Mark Woolsey, 82, of Quispamsis, who attended Thursday\u2019s march.<\/p>\n

Advertisement 4<\/p>\n

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n

Article content<\/p>\n

\"Protesters Tim and Goldie Osmond, of Rusagonis, create signs outside of the New Brunswick legislature Thursday. They participated in a protest against AI data centres. Photo by Barbara Simpson\/Brunswick News<\/p>\n

The Greens\u2019 non-binding motion \u2013 which ultimately didn\u2019t proceed to a vote Thursday and will now likely die on the order paper \u2013 called for a data-centre moratorium to replace in place until legislation is enacted to ensure these facilities don\u2019t \u201cincrease the price of electricity, harm communities or harm the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is happening in (Saint John) is absolutely unacceptable,\u201d Green MLA Megan Mitton told protesters Thursday ahead of debate on her moratorium motion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s this vision of the world that the Holt government, the Carney government, a bunch of people who are unfortunately in decision-making positions, are trying to push forward, and that\u2019s this vision of AI taking over everything, taking our jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s building more and more gas plants, it\u2019s burning more and more natural gas, and it\u2019s not looking at what New Brunswickers need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both the Holt and Carney Liberal governments have shown steadfast support for the development of Canada\u2019s AI sector, citing the economic and data sovereignty benefits from these projects.<\/p>\n

Advertisement 5<\/p>\n

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n

Article content<\/p>\n

Last November, Energy Minister Ren\u00e9 Legacy told Brunswick News that he had no plans<\/a> to introduce legislation to block NB Power from selling electricity to AI data centres despite a similar ban being in place for cryptocurrency mining operations.<\/p>\n

In 2023, the Higgs Progressive Conservative government put that permanent ban in place, citing the significant demand these mining operations place on the province\u2019s energy grid.<\/p>\n

According to recent York University research, Canada has a total of five active \u201chyperscale\u201d data centres, which are defined as at least 50-megawatt operations. Researchers say 96 more hyperscale projects that are in development across Canada.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, the Carney government unveiled a national AI strategy, with the goal in part of supporting the construction of large-scale data centres.<\/p>\n

\u2018Strong system\u2019 in place to evaluate projects: minister<\/p>\n

During debate on Mitton\u2019s motion Thursday, Luke Randall, the minister responsible for Opportunities New Brunswick, spoke about discussions between the Crown corporation and Calgary-based Beacon AI, which is a proponent of the Saint John data centre project along with Texas-based VoltaGrid.<\/p>\n

Advertisement 6<\/p>\n

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n

Article content<\/p>\n

Although he acknowledged public concerns over the proposed centre, Randall said the province has a \u201cstrong system in place to evaluate these projects, including rigorous environmental impact assessments, investment reviews and opportunity for robust public engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are not rubber-stamped processes,\u201d he said. \u201cThey are detailed, data-driven evaluations to ensure high standards are met before any project moves forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the case of the Saint John project, Randall said the proposed data centre would initially require the \u201cequivalent of the amount of water that would fill the Saint John aquatic centre pool one and a half times.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter that, demand would just drop to 6,500 gallons of water per day, which would be roughly the equivalent of what a 100-seat local restaurant would use or the amount of water needed to maintain a two-acre field,\u201d said Randall, who didn\u2019t address the specific energy consumption concerns some members of the public have raised about the Saint John project.<\/p>\n

Advertisement 7<\/p>\n

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n

Article content<\/p>\n

Data-centre projects like the one in Saint John present \u201creal economic opportunities for our communities,\u201d the minister said, noting that \u201cNew Brunswick can pursue growth and still be responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHyperscale data centres represent a new global industry and it is growing rapidly as the demand for AI and cloud-based technology and digital services continues to accelerate,\u201d Randall said during the debate late Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Progressive Conservative MLA Ian Lee believes the Holt government needs to undertake a review of \u201cthe role and expansion of AI data centres in our province before allowing large-scale projects to move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

His riding of Fundy-The Isles-Saint John Lorneville would house the Beacon AI data centre if the project secures regulatory approval.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe province should not rush into approving energy-intensive developments without fully understanding the long-term consequences for citizens, infrastructure and sustainability,\u201d said Lee, who indicated in the legislature he was in favour of the Greens\u2019 motion for a moratorium.<\/p>\n

\"Greens Green party MLA Megan Mitton brought forward a motion calling for a moratorium on the development of AI data centres in New Brunswick. She and Green party Leader David Coon spoke to protesters gathered outside of the legislature Thursday. Photo by Barbara Simpson\/Brunswick News<\/p>\n

Debate on the Greens\u2019 motion continued into early Thursday evening, with Mitton asking for a vote to occur before the day\u2019s proceedings wrapped up given the legislature was expected to break Friday for the summer.<\/p>\n

Mitton was unable to secure unanimous consent for the vote to occur, meaning the motion will likely die on the order paper when a new legislative session starts in the fall.<\/p>\n

Article content<\/p>\n

Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Breadcrumb Trail Links New BrunswickNewsSaint John & SouthThe IssuesEnergy & Environment Greens unable to secure unanimous consent for…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":733266,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[62,276,277,49,48,61],"class_list":["post-733265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-artificial-intelligence","tag-ai","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-artificialintelligence","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/733265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=733265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/733265\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/733266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=733265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=733265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=733265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}