Alberta minister faces more fury at second town hall on AI data centres
Alberta’s technology minister faced yet another firing line of fury at the government’s second town hall hearing from residents over its plan for artificial intelligence data centres.
Nate Glubish was peppered with profanity from audience members at the Thursday event in Redwater, north of Edmonton, in Sturgeon County.
Last month, tech giant Meta announced plans to build a $13-billion AI data centre project in the region. It is to be fed by a $4.6-billion natural gas-fired power plant.
People lined up to the microphone to level their concerns and demand specifics on safeguards. Some said trust in the provincial government has already been lost on the file.
One woman said Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government spent more than two years planning its strategy and only recently notified locals.
“If no one wants this, why are you pushing forward with this?” she asked, to applause.
“Lots of people not applauding,” said event moderator and political staffer Vitor Marciano, who stepped in before the minister responded.
Under a barrage of angry interruptions, Glubish sought to offer what he said was his best answer to the woman’s question.
“This was zoned for this for over 30 years, and now it is coming to fruition,” he said.
Other speakers expressed concern that local resources, such as water, land and electricity, might be sucked dry by the megaproject. Some were also skeptical about the promised jobs.
Glubish said Meta’s project represents indirect economic benefits, and that 300 jobs are nothing to brush past.
“If we have a choice between 300 jobs and zero jobs, I’m taking 300 jobs all day long,” said Glubish.
Throughout the night, audience members hurled multiple expletives toward Glubish. The crowd also heckled the minister and made interjections as he spoke.
Glubish also took heat for the Smith government’s use of the notwithstanding clause, a once-rarely-used provision that can override rights in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
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