Volunteers from Save Lorneville want you to know they are not backing down. The group recently hosted a public discussion at the Saint John Newcomers Centre to organize opposition against a controversial AI data centre proposed for the area. The event brought community members together to hear from researchers and activists about the impacts of the facility.

The Call for a Moratorium

Activist and researcher Nick Tsergas spoke at the meeting. He built the website stopthedatacentre.ca to track the issue. Tsergas investigated the health and environmental effects of hyperscale AI data centres. He found Canada lacks rules to manage the implications of these massive facilities. He called for an immediate moratorium on new data centre developments and expansions. This pause gives governments time to study the issue and understand the consequences.

Tsergas explained that seven major tech companies drive the demand for these centres. He noted these companies compete intensely to build the most powerful AI models and secure a monopoly. Speculative developers like Calgary based Beacon AI plan to build the Lorneville facility to attract these tech giants. They also expect to receive federal subsidies under the Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy.

Tsergas questioned this approach. “Building data centres in Canada does not automatically make them sovereign,” he said. “We need to define sovereignty and part of that is understanding who the users are of these data centres.” He argued that if developers receive public funds, U.S. companies should not be allowed to use the facilities.

Strategies for Opposition

Mike Balkwill from the Small Change Fund also addressed the crowd. His charity specializes in crowdfunding for grassroots organizations. Balkwill shared strategies to stop speculative data centre development in New Brunswick. He told the audience they need to scare off investors. Investors prefer communities with no opposition.

Balkwill advised residents to show visible, strong, consistent and persistent opposition. He also suggested pressuring politicians to slow down the tech monopoly game. “They are not going to be talked to with facts into changing their mind. They are going to be pressured, embarrassed and pushed into changing their mind,” Balkwill said. He encouraged residents to speak to politicians everywhere they go, from grocery stores to churches.

Awaiting the Court Decision

While activists organize, the legal battle continues. The public awaits Judge Kathryn Gregory to issue her decision following a three day judicial review hearing in early September. The hearing focused on the decision by the City of Saint John to expand the industrial park for the data centre.

Lorneville residents Chris Watson, Adam Wilkins and Shayne Galbraith represented the community in court. They argued the project lacked procedural fairness. They claimed the approval was a forgone conclusion for some city councillors. They also argued the city failed to apply constraints from its own municipal plan.

Jonathan O’Kane represented the city. He argued city council engaged in extensive public consultation. He called the process consultative democracy in action. During the hearing, the city acknowledged it referenced language that was deleted in a 2014 bylaw amendment.

Following the hearing, New Brunswick Minister of Post Secondary Education, Training and Labour Jean Claude D’Amours stated the Lorneville project awaits a provincial data centre policy framework before moving forward.

Upcoming Open House

Developers are still moving forward with their public relations efforts. Beacon AI and Texas based power company VoltaGrid organized an open house at the Lorneville Community Centre. They plan to present their proposed AI data centre and gas plant project to the public on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the proposed Lorneville project?

Developers Beacon AI and VoltaGrid propose building a hyperscale AI data centre and an accompanying gas plant in the Lorneville area of Saint John.

Why are residents opposing the data centre?

Community members and activists cite concerns over environmental impacts, a lack of regulatory frameworks and procedural fairness during the city approval process.

What is the current legal status of the project?

The project awaits a decision from Judge Kathryn Gregory following a three day judicial review hearing regarding the city decision to expand the industrial park.

When is the next public meeting about the data centre?

Beacon AI and VoltaGrid host an open house at the Lorneville Community Centre on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m.