🏴🇨🇦 Technology and Democracy Reporter at Canada's National Observer. Creator of Civic Searchlight. Contact: rwhite.12 (Signal)
Data centres are shaping up to be a major election issue for voters in Ontario's upcoming municipal elections.
Where data centres are proposed, Ontario voters have questions for their local candidatesResidents are concerned over the risks presented by the developments, which are part of a global boom driven by AI. And the public backlash is starting to shape the platforms of candidates.www.nationalobserver.com
"Data centres are set to become a major issue in the October municipal elections in Ontario, according to candidates in 4 municipalities interviewed by Canada's National Observer" The National Observer's coverage of the data centre issue is good. If you can afford it, please consider subscribing.
Rory WhiteThis morning, Mississauga city council will also decide whether to put a year-long freeze on AI data centre developments. Hamilton councillors voted 10-6 against a moratorium after intensive lobbying earlier this month. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/29/n...
This morning, Mississauga city council will also decide whether to put a year-long freeze on AI data centre developments. Hamilton councillors voted 10-6 against a moratorium after intensive lobbying earlier this month. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/29/n...
Where data centres are proposed, Ontario voters have questions for their local candidatesResidents are concerned over the risks presented by the developments, which are part of a global boom driven by AI. And the public backlash is starting to shape the platforms of candidates.www.nationalobserver.com
As Canada faces another #heatwave and #wildfireseason, these impacts must shape #Budget2026. Municipalities need sustained federal partnership to protect their communities. Read more in @nationalnewswatch.com by @blackwellmerlin.bsky.social and ED Zoe Grams nationalnewswatch.com/2026/06/26/i...
It’s too hot, it’s Wildfire Season and it’s time to talk Budget 2026National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.nationalnewswatch.comAnd then last night we found out that Export Development Canada loaned $100-200 million to Greenlight, the gas plant behind Meta’s data centre in Sturgeon County. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/24/n...
Crown corp lends up to $200M for Meta data centre gas plant in AlbertaThe gas plant, known as Greenlight, is classified as a project that is “likely to have significant adverse environmental and social effects.”www.nationalobserver.comOn Tuesday, we discovered that Smith awarded a mysterious $300k “website” contract to a firm founded by her ex-advisor. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/21/n...
Former Smith advisers awarded $300,000 referendum contract by Alberta governmentThe contract was for the creation of a website, albertareferendum2026.ca, which belongs to the Government of Alberta and provides information on the province's upcoming referendum.www.nationalobserver.comThis week I wrote three stories, all surfacing from overlooked public documents in Alberta. On Monday, we revealed that power generators are expecting wholesale electricity prices in Alberta to triple when first data centres come online. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/20/a...
Alberta electricity industry expects tripling of power prices from data centresIn Capital Power's latest earnings call, the company's CEO, Avik Dey, told analysts that he couldn't rule out prices of "$80 or $90" per megawatt hour of electricity by early 2028. By 2029, rival comp...www.nationalobserver.com
NEW from me and Darius Snieckus: Export Development Canada financed the Greenlignt gas plant powering Meta’s data centre in Sturgeon County. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/24/n...
Crown corp lends up to $200M for Meta data centre gas plant in AlbertaThe gas plant, known as Greenlight, is classified as a project that is “likely to have significant adverse environmental and social effects.”www.nationalobserver.comScoop by @rorywh.bsky.social and Darius Snieckus.
Canada's National ObserverNEW: Export Development Canada provided between $100 million and $200 million in project financing for the gas-fired plant that will power Meta's data centre in Sturgeon County, Alta., Canada's National Observer has discovered.
NEW: Export Development Canada provided between $100 million and $200 million in project financing for the gas-fired plant that will power Meta's data centre in Sturgeon County, Alta., Canada's National Observer has discovered.
Crown corp lends up to $200M for Meta data centre gas plant in AlbertaThe gas plant, known as Greenlight, is classified as a project that is “likely to have significant adverse environmental and social effects.”www.nationalobserver.com
After two separate investigations into procurement corruption, and an ongoing RCMP criminal investigation of procurement, the UCP govt of Danielle Smith still awards a $300K contract to her former campaign advisor's company, claiming it was an open competition when there is no evidence of that.
Canada's National ObserverDanielle Smith's office has awarded a $300,000 government contract to an advertising agency co-founded by her former campaign advisor.
Danielle Smith's office has awarded a $300,000 government contract to an advertising agency co-founded by her former campaign advisor.
Former Smith advisers awarded $300,000 referendum contract by Alberta governmentThe contract was for the creation of a website, albertareferendum2026.ca, which belongs to the Government of Alberta and provides information on the province's upcoming referendum.www.nationalobserver.comOne of the lesser-known services Thomson Reuters offers is Consolidated Lead Evaluation and Reporting, or CLEAR, a database that compiles individuals’ private information not normally accessible to law enforcement.
Thomson Reuters to share American information with ICE in new dealWhile the company insists it has "safeguards" in place to prevent misuse of the information, some experts say the US$125-billion deal is a "red flag."www.nationalobserver.comDanielle Smith's office has awarded a $300,000 government website contract to an advertising agency co-founded by her former campaign advisor. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/21/n...
Former Smith advisers awarded $300,000 referendum contract by Alberta governmentThe contract was for the creation of a website, albertareferendum2026.ca, which belongs to the Government of Alberta and provides information on the province's upcoming referendum.www.nationalobserver.comVia @rorywh.bsky.social Alberta electricity industry expects tripling of power prices from data centres www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/20/a...
Alberta electricity industry expects tripling of power prices from data centresIn Capital Power's latest earnings call, the company's CEO, Avik Dey, told analysts that he couldn't rule out prices of "$80 or $90" per megawatt hour of electricity by early 2028. By 2029, rival comp...www.nationalobserver.comThe Pathways carbon capture project will be heavily dependent on public money. But another, hidden cost will also fall on the public.
Taxpayers could be paying twice for Pathways carbon capture projectCanadians already funding the majority of the cost of building the Pathways project, the world’s biggest CCS complex, could also be stuck with higher fuel prices under a plan to help absorb the megapr...www.nationalobserver.comSome really impressive work here by a particularly impressive intern — Jamie Voyles, who is a rare breed of journalist with a PhD in public health.
Canada's National ObserverSince 2009, the per capita rate of Lyme disease has increased approximately 32-fold in Canada, according to calculations by Canada’s National Observer — making it one of Canada's clearest examples of a climate-related health problem. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/20/n...