Avalon Chapter of The Council of Canadians

09/10/2026

It's a good news day apparently! From CBC Nova Scotia.

"The Municipality of Cumberland is moving ahead with a moratorium on data centres that support artificial intelligence.

On Tuesday, a bylaw that could start a six-month moratorium on development permit applications for data centres unanimously passed first reading by council.

In the meeting, Coun. Jennifer Houghtaling said residents are worried about how water and electricity consumption by data centres could impact their lives as well as the environment.

“I believe this moratorium should be in place as long as it takes to make an informed decision. Some are comparing Nova Scotia to Alberta. Here in Nova Scotia, when you sneeze, the farmer next over catches your cold,” said Houghtaling.

Earlier this month, Oakville, Ont., became the first municipality in that province to enact a one-year moratorium on new data centres. Cumberland Mayor Rod Gilroy believes his council is the first in Nova Scotia to go in the same direction, while regulations can be drafted.

“To sit back and do nothing was never an option. Be proactive and learn and take it all in and make a good decision,” said Gilroy in an interview after the meeting.

The issue was initially brought to council in June after residents expressed concern over a land purchase in Malagash.

Mississauga, Ont.-based company 3Sha Infotech Inc. owns 44 hectares of farmland in Upper Malagash. CBC News made multiple attempts to reach the company to ask about its plans for the property, but was not successful.

Cumberland CAO Greg Herrett said at this point the creation of a moratorium is proactive and based on concerns in the community.

“We, at this point, are not in receipt of any sorts of inquiries. We are not aware of potential applications. Our staff are not engaged with anyone kicking the tires about an application,” he told councillors.

Herrett said staff cannot accept any applications to consider data centres if any are submitted after first reading. He said second reading of the bylaw will be scheduled after a public hearing, which is expected to be held in September. "

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

Pipelines aren't worth the extinction of iconic species.

Right now, there are only 74 Southern Resident Killer Whales left. We've spent years fighting tooth and nail for this species, from courtroom battles to law reform. But now, we fear that the Southern Resident Killer Whales are about to be pushed to the brink.
The proposed West Coast Oil Pipeline is set to be designated as a 'Project of National Interest'. It would carry up to one million barrels of oil a day from Alberta to a new marine terminal at Roberts Bank in the Fraser River Estuary.

Under the Building Canada Act, the government can designate projects as being of “national interest.” That designation could allow the West Coast Oil Pipeline to be advanced through an expedited process — bypassing the critical "no jeopardy" test in the Species at Risk Act.

Right now, there is an opportunity to push back:

The federal government is accepting public comments on whether the West Coast Oil Pipeline should receive a “project of national interest” designation. The comment period closes September 18. Submit your letter and comment using our latest advocacy tool today.

👉 https://bit.ly/46DiXjG

We cannot claim to protect endangered species while making decisions that push them closer to extinction.

08/28/2026

While world leaders are increasingly saying out loud that the postwar liberal world order is dead, the ruling classes in the Global North have an answer for what will come to replace it: fascism. Will they be able to implement their vision?

06/08/2026

Last week in Montreal, organizers, researchers, labour leaders, environmental advocates, journalists, artists, and community groups gathered for the Civil Society Summit on the AI Industry.

Together, we asked an urgent question: how is artificial intelligence shaping civil society in Canada?

Read the full Summit recap here: https://canadians.org/analysis/civil-society-summit-on-ai-recap/

06/08/2026

The Liberal government’s artificial intelligence strategy announced today is putting the profits of Big Tech billionaires ahead of workers and the public.

“Workers need laws that address the very real risks of AI,” said Mark Hancock. “If the government doesn’t put up guardrails, workers will be managed by algorithms no one can see or challenge, and it will do real harm.”

The risks to workers from AI include jobs being dramatically transformed or eliminated, invasive electronic surveillance, unaccountable algorithms managing workers, and AI-led decisions that are biased or discriminatory.

“Public trust in AI is low, and the Liberal strategy will keep it that way," said Candace Rennick. "Workers, experts and the public need to be calling the shots about how this technology gets used in our workplaces and in our communities.”

Read here: https://cupe.ca/news/liberal-ai-strategy-puts-big-tech-ahead-workers-cupe

La stratégie sur l’intelligence artificielle annoncée jeudi par le gouvernement libéral fait passer les milliards des géants du numérique devant l’intérêt public.

« Les travailleuses et travailleurs ont besoin de lois qui tiennent compte des risques bien réels de l’IA », souligne Mark Hancock. « Si le gouvernement n’impose pas de balises, les travailleurs seront gérés par des algorithmes impossibles à comprendre et à contester, ce qui causera bien des préjudices. »

Parmi les risques liés à l’IA pour les travailleurs, on compte notamment la transformation radicale ou l’élimination de certains emplois, la surveillance électronique intrusive, la gestion du personnel par des algorithmes sans reddition de comptes, ainsi que des décisions automatisées qui sont biaisées ou discriminatoires.

« Le public est méfiant envers l’IA et la stratégie des libéraux ne fera rien pour changer la donne », affirme Candace Rennick. « Les travailleuses et travailleurs, les spécialistes et la population doivent être les premiers à avoir leur mot à dire sur l’utilisation de cette technologie dans nos milieux de travail et nos communautés. »

Lire ici : https://scfp.ca/nouvelles/le-scfp-est-preoccupe-par-la-strategie-liberale-sur-lia-qui-favorise-les-geants-du

06/08/2026

The Canadian market for cloud computing is monopolized. In a new report, CAMP argues that the most effective response is to unleash competition through procurement, regulation, and competition law enforcement.

05/15/2026