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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.
Sturgeon County resident, Connie Shields, said she doesn’t trust the government to properly regulate projects like these.
“You are the people we elected. You should be saying what we’re telling you to say,” Shields said.
“You shouldn’t be making up your own rules, you shouldn’t be dictating what goes where.”
Another woman in the crowd 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.
The cheers were loud, but not unanimous.
“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.
Jobs ‘all day long,’ minister pledges
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.
One man in the crowd described that decision as “slimy” and questioned how Albertans could trust the provincial government.
“I’m sorry to hear that you have such a jaded view of the government,” Glubish responded, to boos.
“All I can offer is that I’m going to do the best of my ability to ensure that any development in data centres is done responsibly. I care deeply about this province.”
Thursday’s event came one day after Glubish was met with jeers, badgering and boos during a town hall in the central Alberta town of Lacombe.
He has said AI technology is going to be built globally, no matter what happens in Alberta. He said the province should take advantage of the investment, jobs and private investment in power generation.
Protestors gathered in Morinville, Alta., on Sunday afternoon to push back against a new data centre being built in Sturgeon County. The CBC’s Tristan Mottershead reports.
Ben Baril, an anti-data centre activist and organizer, told reporters Thursday’s town hall became a protest.
He said the government isn’t interested in gathering public opinion.
“The more that they come out and humiliate themselves in front of large crowds, more and more people see how disingenuous they are,” Baril said.
He added that opponents need to keep pestering public officials about the issue.
Glubish reiterated that the province has developed strict rules to protect local water supplies and keep power bills under control.
He has also promised that further setback rules that ensure megaprojects aren’t built near residential areas are on the way.
“We are just at the start of a new industry, and we are taking the time to make sure that we get the regulatory framework in place,” he said Thursday.
Smith is set to join Glubish for a virtual town hall Aug. 27. Another in-person town hall is set for next month in Grande Prairie.
