Manitoba Rejects Large-Scale AI Data Centre Near Winnipeg for Environmental Reasons Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced that the construction of a large-scale artificial intelligence data centre on 141 hectares of farmland southeast of Winnipeg will not proceed. Kinew stated that the project’s immense scale, energy requirements, and community impact outweigh any potential benefits, citing significant environmental threats. He expressed reservations about future demand for such large centres and rejected the notion of being beholden to surveillance capitalism, encouraging companies with human-centred technology approaches to consider Manitoba.

• Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has halted the construction of a large-scale AI data centre.
• The project was planned for a 141-hectare tract of farmland southeast of Winnipeg.
• Concerns cited include the project’s immense scale, energy requirements, and effects on the Île-des-Chênes community.
• Premier Kinew highlighted environmental threats and questioned the economic benefits.
• Manitoba is seeking human-centred technology approaches rather than surveillance capitalism.