FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nathan Ip, Shadow Minister for Technology and Innovation and Sarah Elmeligi, Shadow Minister for Environment and Protected Areas, issued the following statement:
“We recently learned that two data centres – including the Synapse data centre in Olds – will not be required by this UCP government to complete provincial environmental impact assessments. This is in addition to Kevin O’Leary’s Wonder Valley project, which will also proceed without an assessment.”
“Data centres have the potential to bring billions of investment dollars into Alberta. But in order for them to succeed, there needs to be community buy-in with trust and transparency. Residents of rural Alberta, First Nations and other stakeholders have raised serious concerns about the impacts of these projects on our water and the environment.”
“Environmental impact assessments help Albertans understand development impacts, how they can be mitigated, and allow for future monitoring and enforcement. Without them, the risks and long‑term costs remain unknown, and there is no guarantee that monitoring or enforcement will take place.”
“AI investment is a good thing for Alberta, and the AI economy presents real opportunities for growth and jobs. But to avoid future environmental liabilities – like we’ve seen with orphan wells – AI data centres must be required to complete thorough environmental impact assessments, like every other major industrial project in Alberta.”
“This UCP government continued disregard for environmental regulations undermines its responsibility to Albertans and weakens public trust. They are also failing to provide industry with the certainty or guidelines needed to operate responsibly.”
“Alberta’s New Democrats know we can grow our economy, attract investment and protect our water and environment – but only with clarity, transparency, and accountability, all of which this UCP government has failed to provide”
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