Dear neighbour, we need to talk about the data centre rush sweeping across Alberta.
Premier Smith presents data centres as an unqualified win — jobs, investment, diversification, all with no downside. But across this country, other governments are reaching a very different conclusion.
Just in the past few months, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew rejected the exact same model. Hamilton city council pumped the brakes. Communities from New Brunswick to Quebec are asking hard questions that no one in Alberta seems willing to entertain.
Why is Alberta not listening?
Manitoba — Premier Wab Kinew Said No
In June 2026, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew rejected a large-scale natural-gas-powered data centre proposal southeast of Winnipeg. His reasoning was blunt: “There is a big threat to the environment and not much benefit to the economy.”
This is not a partisan statement — it is a plain assessment of the cost-benefit math. Manitoba looked at the same industry Alberta is embracing and decided the deal did not add up.
What did Manitoba see that Alberta will not look at?
Hamilton — City Council Hit Pause
That same month, Hamilton city council voted to temporarily pause data centre development after community backlash to a waterfront proposal. The Globe and Mail called the decision “big” and noted it signals growing municipal resistance across the country.
Local governments CAN slow this down. They CAN demand a second look.
New Brunswick — Residents Are Fighting Back
In Lorneville, New Brunswick, residents are organizing against a proposed AI data centre in their community, as documented by The Narwhal. This fight crosses party lines — it is neighbours saying “not without real answers.”
This is a national story. Communities everywhere are asking questions Wheatland County should be asking.
The Quebec Model — Caution With Cheap Power
Quebec has cheap hydro power — the very resource data centre companies say they need most. They have attracted projects like Google in Beauharnois. But they have done it with environmental oversight and regulatory processes still in place.
They did not waive environmental assessments. They did not fast-track approvals. Alberta could learn from that.
The American Experience — $64 Billion Blocked
If you think this is just Canadian caution, look south. Data Center Watch has catalogued $64 billion in data centre projects blocked or delayed across 28 US states. There are 142 active opposition groups across the country.
This opposition is bipartisan — 55% Republican, 45% Democrat. Communities doing the math and finding the deal does not add up.
In Prince William County, Virginia, residents voted out every single council member who supported a data centre project. In Cascade Locks, Oregon, voters recalled port officials who backed one.
This is not NIMBYism. This is democracy.
What Alberta Is Doing Instead
While other jurisdictions slow down, Alberta is flooring the accelerator. Environmental assessments have been waived for Wonder Valley and Olds. There has been no cumulative impact assessment for the 22+ gigawatts in the queue. Grid allocations are being flipped for profit. The government concierge program was built for speed, not scrutiny.
Bills 8 and 12 passed with virtually no public debate. There have been no meaningful public consultations on data centre policy.
This is not prudent governance. This is a race to the bottom.
What Wheatland County Can Learn
The common thread is simple: communities that slow down, ask hard questions, and demand independent studies make good decisions. Communities that rush to approve are the ones that end up regretting it.
Wheatland County has a choice. We can learn from Manitoba, Hamilton, and Prince William County. Or we can become the cautionary tale others point to down the road.
Let us not be that cautionary tale.
Visit our evidence and research page to see the full picture. And when you are ready to take action, head over to our Get Involved page to find out how you can help.