Liveblog ReplayHamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas Town Hall on AI

6:26 PM:

This is my first liveblog with new code on the backend of the website.

Here is MP Danko on stage beginning his meeting.

6:29 PM:

Danko’s open remarks included saying that he is not pro-AI, anti-AI, that he is:
“pro-business, pro-economic development, and pro jobs for the future.”

Danko said is job is to share community views to the Ministers and Prime Minister, and to share why the government he is part of is enacting decisions, how they benefit Canada.

He also says his job is to advocate for federal investments in Hamilton, and to secure benefits for our community.

Hamilton is one of the most tariff impacted communities in Canada.

AI is where the world is going, electrification to decrease carbon impacts, and the need to upgrade Canada’s infrastructure.

Danko says he wants to talk tonight about the medical and sciencific uses of LLMs and AI – that’s what the federal strategy and investment is to advance. Danko wants these researchers and advanced jobs in Hamilton.

6:40 PM:

MP Danko is now explaining the Federal Liberal government’s Bill C-22, the lawful access bill. He says it is the same as when police could go to a judge to get a warrant to wiretap telephones.

He says Bill C-22 has privacy protections and ensures that online services maintain metadata for lawful access.

(This Bill is more commonly known as the online surveillance bill)

There is one person who yells towards Danko “What does this have to do with Freedom Convoy”

Danko says he will continue his presentation and take questions after presenting. The man says “okay”

I’m posting this a few minutes later, Danko has continued presenting without interruption.

6:42 PM:

Danko outlines, emphasises, how Canada differs from the United States in regards to environmental regulations, industrial standards, and that the worst data centres that Canadians are seeing on social media from unregulated areas of the United States cannot occur in Canada – that is not permitted.

Danko explains that data centres do not create air pollution, that water cooling is used around the world for many uses, uses the example of cooling buildings throughout downtown Toronto (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Lake_Water_Cooling_System)

6:44 PM:

Danko discusses the statements that construction jobs are only “temporary” and should not be counted as an economic benefits.

Says he worked in construction for 20 years, that the nature of that industry is they are always moving from project to project.

Danko says Hamilton has a housing slowdown, many skilled workers need work, and the proposed data centre projects will use Canadian steel, Canadian lumber, and Canadian workers.

This will create an economic uplift for Hamilton, at a time Hamilton needs economic activity.

6:48 PM:

First question is on water, the person asks why we would use the Great Lakes to cool data centres. The person is concerned that the data centre will evaporate the Great Lakes.

Danko responds by agreeing about the importance of water. That Hamilton as a community has done great work cleaning up Hamilton Harbour. The federal government will not allow population into the Harbour, especially as they just finished capping Randle Reef.

The person says there needs to be studies to “make sure it is safe.”

6:53 PM:

The next person to ask a question says that while Danko says he is neither pro/anti-AI, but his presentation was “fluff” in favour of AI data centres.

She says “the councillors do not know how to handle this” and is “not ready” for any new infrastructure until Council “gets back to the basics” and balances the City budget before allowing new AI data centres.

She says ‘let Canada gets its AI sovereignty elsewhere.’

7:01 PM:

Next question was regarding energy infrastructure, federal priorities on various matters, and wants the federal government to fund renewal energy expansion.

Danko responded by saying electrification is important, electrical demand is increasing because people are adopting more energy efficient appliances instead of fossil fuels. Lists projects underway.

7:09 PM:

The next person to ask a question:

Who are the other municipalities Hamilton is competing with for the federal AI investment.

Danko, for the McMaster data centre, Mac is competing with other universities around the world – Mac needs compute to attract the best researchers and conduct research.

For the federally funded data centre, the Digital Research Alliance of Canada is looking to secure $890-million.
The federal government will choose one proposal in Canada. If not Hamilton, it will go elsewhere.

The Stelco Lands are ideal for this project – this is heavy industrial land with existing electrical infrastructure, will allow for the most environmentally-efficient AI data centre.

The DRAC AI centre will help unlock the rest of Steelport for new industries, especially tech related because it can benefit from shared infrastructure that begins with DRAC.

There is “more economic activity potential” than what there was at the peak of steelmaking.

There is also a supply-chain for the new data centre. There is a strong workforce in the skilled trades, McMaster/Mohawk/Redeemer have the researchers need, and a lot of the components for facilities are built here in Hamilton.

7:13 PM:

The next person to speak says Hamilton is dealing with poverty because people are being sent to Hamilton, and that the problems become Hamilton’s to deal with – without the federal government helping.

The roads needs to be fixed first, he argues. That Hamilton needs to get its act together before considering AI data centres.

Danko starts to response. There is some shout backs from the audience – “What about Housing!” someone says the Stelco lands should be cleaned up to build more homes.

7:19 PM:

There was some people trying to get in their comments from the audience.

Eventually, others in the audience ask them to stop so that other people can have their turn.

The next person with the microphone states their concerns with the Bill C22 surveillance bill.

The person says privacy protects are the only thing protecting use from authoritarianism.

This gets louds applause from the crowd.

Danko says he supports Bill C22. Many heckles from the audience.

Danko says C22 is to protect us from US tech surveillance and them tracking us. Bill C22 protects Canadian’s privacy.

There is some polite back-and-forth in the audience regarding people’s views on Carney, big tech.

This is truly a good town hall. There have been no actual disruptions or shout downs.

People are hear to listen to other views.

7:28 PM:

There have been a few questions and answers in the past five minutes.

The current question is concern that AI data centres will have ties to American and Israeli companies. Concerned about “backdoors” from Bill C22

That data centres will create a 10-km heat island. It will make Hamilton hotter, and the water. “I don’t see how this is benefitting us.”

About a quarter of the room applauds.

Danko: The Hamilton projects are “100 per cent Canadian” and there is “zero American involvement”

Danko says he shares concerns about Meta and American tech.

Says the concerns about heat and water are examples from the United States.

That does not happen in Canada. Canada has strong environmental regulations, water protections, and there are already hundreds of data centres across Canada operating without issues like those in unregulated areas of the United States.

7:35 PM:

The next question is a person says the funding for federal AI is already allocated, the decision has been made, and nobody wants two data centres in their city.

Says the federal AI website is a bunch of buzzwords. Says do not trust that AI data centres will not harm wildlife, that AI will collapse, and that AI will cause a lot of harms.

She asks how can we trust you to Danko.

Danko opens his response by saying that he is not sure how to start his response.
Danko says there have been decreases in trust for institutions.

A few people respond back “Liberals”

Danko then says the City had broad consultation when he was on Council about getting the Steelport lands shovel-ready for future industries, there was broad public engagement, input.

Now it is shovel-ready and that is why DRAC is looking at the site.

Danko says there have been federal consultations on AI strategy.

The person who asked the question says they do not believe he answered the question.

7:36 PM:

Next person to ask a question says Danko’s open by stating he is pro-jobs pro-economic development to open his remark tonight revealed his lenses on things.

She expresses concerns about privacy and Bill C22 surveillance backdoors.

7:38 PM:

Danko responds that the government is acting quickly on a number of files because Canada is in a Trade War that was begun by Donald Trump.

He is trying to undermine Canada’s economy to force Canada to be a vassal, when Trump says 51st State, Trump is serious.

Canada needs to redefine its economic, make new relationships with allies such as Europe, and enable new industries.

7:45 PM:

The next speaker opens by thanking MP Danko for holding the Town Hall, and for building trust be holding a Town Hall.

This person says AI is coming, it is part of our economy now, and that environment regulations must be enforced. This can been a catalyst for more economic activity. There are some applause to this comment, some people shaking heads.

I emphasis, this has been a good town hall discussion. The crowd dynamics has been healthy, democratic.

LAST QUESTION is next.

7:48 PM:

The microphone for last question returns to the same person who asked the first question. This is someone who has expressed their opposition to Liberals, opposition to Carney, noted concerns about how the feds treated the Convoy.

I note this because it shows the microphone is moving around the room, people are getting their say.

The final question: concerned about increases in costs of electricity, brownouts, and other impacts to the grid.

Danko responses by noting the differences between Ontario and the United States.

Notes electricity rates are regulated, that allocations is regulated, that the Hamilton data centres will use existing energy allocations and infrastructure that exists from past industries at those sites.

7:49 PM:

Oh geez, in my arriving late, getting setup etc…

Forgot to note Ward 15 Councillor Ted McMeekin is in the audience.