Hundreds protest across Nova Scotia against proposed AI data centre

Explainer

Hundreds of people demonstrated across Nova Scotia on Saturday to oppose a proposed artificial intelligence data centre in Point Tupper. The largest protest drew an estimated 1,000 people to Province House in Halifax, where police closed a street due to the crowd size. Simultaneous rallies were held in Kentville, Port Hawkesbury, Sydney, Truro, Bridgewater and Westville, with organizers reporting turnouts ranging from 50 to 200 people at each location. The protests target a $10-billion project by EverWind Fuels to build a data centre to support the AI chatbot Claude for American company Anthropic. "Today, this alone shows me that even on a pouring rainy day that Nova Scotians are going to stand up and say, 'No, this isn't right,'" said Ashley Drodge, one of the main organizers in Halifax. Protesters voiced a wide range of concerns, including the environmental impact of the facility, a lack of government transparency and consultation, and the philosophical opposition to AI technology itself. Many placards highlighted worries about the massive amounts of electricity and water required to run data centres.

What are the specific environmental and resource concerns?

Protesters fear the data centre will place an unsustainable burden on Nova Scotia's natural resources. Data centres house large rows of computer hardware that generate intense heat and require constant water-based cooling systems. The planned Point Tupper facility is expected to draw 95 megawatts of electricity in its first phase, scheduled for 2027, with a 325-megawatt expansion planned for mid-2028. EverWind has said it intends to draw power from the provincial grid until it can build approximately 80 onshore wind turbines around the province, for which it holds approvals but has not started construction.

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The company says the AI campus will use and reuse water from a nearby lake. However, critics point to global examples of environmental damage. "Just look at what Google has done in India, where literally they just cut down hectares of essential rainforest," said protester Greg Harper. "And it's the same thing with Finland now where they've cut down swaths of forest... That's a problem for me and now it's going to come here?" Rowan Swain of the Ecology Action Centre said at the Halifax protest that Nova Scotians deserve economic options that don't sacrifice community health or the environment.

Why are protesters accusing the government of a lack of transparency?

A central theme at the rallies was the belief that the provincial government made decisions about the project without proper public consultation or democratic process. "It feels like they're making decisions behind our backs almost," said protester Sarah Ryan. Owen Skeen, chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students for Nova Scotia, called the process "entirely non-transparent" and "undemocratic." He argued the community and environmental experts were not consulted before the project was announced by Premier Tim Houston on Oct. 16.

Benjamin Lauzon, an organizer in Port Hawkesbury, wants Houston to convene an emergency session of the legislature for an open debate. "The MLAs have a duty to bring the public's concerns to the legislative assembly," Lauzon said. "Right now, it's not a decision for him alone to make." In a statement, the province said it accepts that Nova Scotians have questions and concerns, and that it is open minded about the potential $10-billion investment. The government said it has been clear a data centre can only proceed if it meets and exceeds provincial and federal guidelines on protecting water, the environment, and power rates.

What other objections were raised beyond the environment?

Protesters argued the project represents misplaced priorities, diverting attention and potential public funding away from pressing needs like health care, education and housing. "They don't have enough money to fund the universities, tuition rates are going up, faculty are being cut, healthcare workers are losing their jobs but, meanwhile, we're seeing hundreds of millions of dollars of public funding going into things like these massive AI data centres," said Skeen. Others, like Emmett Paul, a teaching assistant at Dalhousie University, objected to AI's influence on art and academia. "I tutor people in writing, I do like all sorts of things with art.... The idea of bringing AI, or any form of data centre, into Nova Scotia is just against everything I believe in," Paul said. Artist and children's literacy advocate Kelly Bee spoke about the negative impacts of generative AI on the arts, arguing AI companies scrape real artists' work to train their models. "We will never have another Maud Lewis in the province if we make generative AI the standard," Bee said. Some, like Greg Harper, opposed the technology on philosophical grounds, saying AI alters people's perceptions of the world and society in negative ways and can be used for corporate surveillance.

What is being said about Mi'kmaq consultation and treaty rights?

Several speakers emphasized that the project cannot proceed without proper consultation and consent from Mi'kmaq communities, a process they say has not happened. Lauren Burton, who lives near Port Hawkesbury, spoke about the need for nation-to-nation relationships. "Decisions affecting Mi'kmaq lands, waters, and communities cannot continue to be made without meaningful Mi'kmaq involvement," Burton said. She questioned why decisions are being made behind closed doors by a select few.

Keilidh Corkill, also with the No More Stolen Sisters campaign, added that nation-to-nation relationships are about more than consultation. "It's about having a say. It's about having self-determination and self-governance over your lands and people, which the Mi'kmaq should have," Corkill said. Protester Sadie Beaton in Kentville said she demonstrated to ensure the responsibilities of the Peace and Friendship Treaties are upheld, concerned that Mi'kmaw consent has not been given.

EverWind held public meetings this week in D'Escousse and Lower River Inhabitants. Mark Stewart, the company's director of engagement, said it's important to have measures in place to develop projects responsibly and in line with federal and provincial guidelines. Premier Tim Houston and EverWind have both stated the data centre would not compromise the environment or cost ratepayers. Yadude Books reported in October that EverWind is also disputing land fees in Newfoundland as it advances its Nova Scotia plans. Organizers of Saturday's protests say they are encouraged by the turnout and see it as a first step in raising awareness and opposing the project.

With files from BNN Bloomberg, CBC News and PNI Atlantic News