ALT British Columbia Plan unveiled for 'sovereign AI data centre' cluster in Kamloops, Vancouver Government, Telus tout facilities' green features, but critics say plan is rushed Simon Little • CBC News • Posted: May 11, 2026 2:07 PM PDT | Last Updated: May 11

ALT B.C. Green Party Leader Emily Lowan accused lawmakers of using a "build-first regulate-later model," and said she wants a moratorium on new data centres in the province until stronger regulation and environmental policies are in place.

ALT We're seeing them override and bypass community concerns specifically about the drain on the fresh water supply. We're seeing this in Nanaimo on the island as well," she said. "Local watershed groups in Kamloops as well are sounding the alarm on the acute drain this is going to have ... they're at great risk because they go through the worst of our drought cycle, extreme heat." Lowan said she was "incredibly skeptical" of Telus's environmental claims about the proposed data centres.

ALT I hope that it starts a public conversation about the speed at which government acts on private interest projects over public interest," she said. "Why is it that an AI data centre can suddenly bypass environmental regulation, community consultation, and it still takes us a decade to build basic public transit?"

ALT Before: a street with a slip lane to the right.

ALT After: same street with the slip lane removed.