Mr. Speaker, the second petition is signed by 38,455 people and was initiated by Vancouver residents who are concerned that AI data centres are being built with high secrecy and low community involvement. The petitioners agree that AI data centres are known for noise and water pollution and for straining water reservoirs and energy grids. They are concerned about AI's impact on jobs, digital sovereignty and other negative social implications.
They call on the Government of Canada to stop all incentives, subsidies and expedited permits for AI data centres, as well as revoke permits and supports for any AI data centres not sought out by the local community and not put through a rigorous vetting and transparent and democratic local approval process. They call for a public study on the unintended negative impacts associated with AI data centres in Canada and elsewhere and call for AI products to be subject to genuine taxes and enforceable regulations of safety, transparency, and power and water use.