Brief
BC Greens demand public veto power over AI data centre approvals
Emily Lowan argues the NDP’s policies lack community veto power and calls for a public‑interest audit and independent oversight.
By Felo News Desk · Published
BC Green Party leader Emily Lowan said on Sunday that the province’s new AI data‑centre policies announced by NDP premier David Eby do not give communities a real say in whether projects are approved.
What happened
During a media availability in Victoria, Lowan responded to the NDP’s October 5 policy package, which includes water‑efficiency standards, mandatory reporting of water consumption and a community‑engagement requirement tied to conservation and drought planning. The package keeps BC Hydro’s power‑capacity limits but does not grant a community veto.
What the reports add
The Canadian Press report notes that the Greens have previously pledged to block new data centres until stricter regulation is in place. Lowan said the NDP’s rules would only tell communities how much water a centre uses after construction, not whether they can stop it before approval. She also highlighted that the Greens would halt both construction and operation of AI data centres until a “detailed public‑interest audit” and a regulatory regime are created.
What was said
Lowan told reporters, “Eby’s new water rules will tell communities how much water a data centre uses after it’s built but won’t say if they can say no to a data centre before it’s approved.” The report attributes the quote to Lowan and the Canadian Press.
How it came about
The Greens’ stance follows earlier provincial debates over water‑utility nationalisation and growing public concern about AI data‑centre impacts, as reflected in Felo’s recent coverage of AI data‑centre backlash in London and the North Devon UNESCO‑biosphere controversy.
Key facts
- Emily Lowan said the NDP’s AI data‑centre policies lack a community veto (winnipegfreepress.com)
- The NDP’s package includes water‑efficiency standards and mandatory water‑use reporting (winnipegfreepress.com)
- The Greens would halt AI data‑centre construction until a public‑interest audit and new regulatory regime are in place (winnipegfreepress.com)
Sources
- [1] winnipegfreepress.com — originally reported as “BC Greens say public must have a say whether AI data centres get built”
