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<\/p>\nPlans to build any major data centres across Mississauga have been temporarily put on hold to allow the city more time to study the matter and any new rules that would regulate the rapidly growing industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Following some two dozen deputations from residents and other stakeholders at Wednesday\u2019s city council meeting, the vast majority of whom spoke against the large new facilities, Mississauga councillors unanimously agreed to impose a moratorium of one year \u2014 and up to two years \u2014 on any such developments in the city.<\/p>\n
Comments on Wednesday from the public, City of Mississauga senior staff, the mayor and councillors were centred around a motion tabled by Ward 9 Coun. Martin Reid that sought to temporarily halt the development of major data centres in Mississauga.<\/p>\n
The motion called for an Interim Control Bylaw that would prohibit new large-scale digital infrastructure facilities \u2014 including artificial intelligence, cloud computing and hyperscale data centres \u2014 for up to one year while the city undertakes a comprehensive planning study.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pause is citywide<\/p>\n
The temporary pause agreed to by council applies citywide and can be extended to a second year if additional time is needed to complete the review.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mayor Carolyn Parrish said post-vote that residents\u2019 fear of the unknown as it relates to huge data centres and their impact is understandable.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know what data centres\u201d are going to bring to Mississauga, and other communities, she added.<\/p>\n
Wednesday\u2019s discussion, which took up most of the day inside council chamber at city hall, comes after months of growing concern among residents over a proposed Prologis data centre in Meadowvale.<\/p>\n
Nearby homeowners have raised questions about electricity demand, water consumption, noise, greenhouse gas emissions, traffic, emergency preparedness and the relatively small number of permanent jobs created by such facilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Mississauga Ward 9 Coun. Martin Reid tabled motion to pause development of data centres in the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cCouncil recognizes the economic opportunities associated with digital infrastructure while recognizing the need for a comprehensive municipal framework before permitting additional large-scale facilities,\u201d Reid\u2019s motion stated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The proposal also noted that while data centres are becoming increasingly important to Canada\u2019s economy, artificial intelligence development, cybersecurity and national security, Ontario has yet to establish a planning or regulatory framework specifically for AI data centres and other large digital infrastructure.\u00a0<\/p>\n
City staff will review planning policies and zoning rules<\/p>\n
Moving forward, city staff will review Mississauga\u2019s planning policies, zoning rules and development approval process for data centres while consulting with utilities, Peel Region, Indigenous communities, industry representatives, environmental experts, academic institutions, residents and community organizations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The review will also examine electricity and water use, wastewater servicing, noise, emissions, taxation, employment impacts, public health, climate considerations and infrastructure capacity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
City staff will explore whether developers could provide voluntary community benefits such as new parks, recreation facilities or public art as part of future data centre projects.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The city will also study possible regulations governing operational impacts such as noise, energy use, water consumption, heat generation and emissions, along with opportunities for greater public reporting on environmental performance where legally permitted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Data centres are critical infrastructure<\/p>\n
Proponents say data\u00a0centres\u00a0have become critical infrastructure as more of everyday life moves online.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everything from streaming services, online banking and Google Maps to cloud computing and artificial intelligence depends on data\u00a0centres\u00a0to store, process and move enormous amounts of digital information.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The rapid growth of AI has dramatically increased demand for new facilities capable of handling advanced computing workloads.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite their growing importance, data centres have also become increasingly controversial in communities across Ontario.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Residents near the proposed Prologis facility on Tenth Line West in Meadowvale have questioned the amount of electricity and water needed to operate the building, the potential for noise from cooling equipment and backup generators, greenhouse gas emissions, and whether the facilities generate enough permanent jobs to justify their demands on public infrastructure.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At a packed town hall hosted by Reid in June, more than 200 residents attended to question company officials and city planners about the proposal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Prologis has said its proposed facility would use a closed-loop cooling system designed to minimize water consumption and that the company would pay for all electrical infrastructure upgrades\u00a0required\u00a0to serve the site.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The company has estimated the project would create\u00a0approximately 790\u00a0construction jobs annually during development, about 75 permanent jobs once operational and more than $1.6 million annually in municipal property taxes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2014 with files from Steve Pecar and Karen Longwell<\/p>\n