Advocates Call For Manitoba AI Data-Centre Moratorium

Joel Trenaman argues in a Winnipeg Free Press opinion piece (Feb. 2026) that a proposed 141-hectare, 500 MW hyperscale data centre at Île-des-Chênes would heavily strain Manitoba’s electricity and water supplies. He cites estimates of 10 million litres of daily water use and compares power needs to 400,000–500,000 homes, urging an immediate multi-year moratorium to protect resources and governance.