Hamilton is my home, and like many residents here, I am deeply concerned about the proposed multi-billion dollar Steelport AI Data Centre on the former Stelco lands. This 800-acre project, led by Slate Asset Management, aims to establish a hyperscale and enterprise campus by utilizing existing heavy industrial grid infrastructure and Lake Ontario for sustainable cooling. While these advancements may appear innovative, they raise serious questions about our community's priorities and future.

As Hamiltonians, we all face the burden of rising utility bills coupled with an aging infrastructure that struggles to meet our current needs. The idea of subsidizing massive private electricity consumption to benefit a data centre while residents continue to bear the costs of a strained system is unacceptable. Moreover, the plan involves utilizing millions of litres of treated water for server cooling—an affront to the efforts of municipalities advocating for water conservation and modernizing systems.

For a project of this magnitude, Hamilton deserves a fair return on its resources. This includes industries with the potential to create substantial, long-term employment opportunities for our community. Instead, we are being asked to allocate valuable land and energy to a data centre that offers negligible employment benefits and tax incentives that could otherwise support sustainable growth in sectors that contribute more significantly to our local economy.

Moreover, the environmental implications cannot be overlooked. Large-scale data centres are notorious for their high energy consumption and environmental footprint. With climate change being a pressing issue, Hamilton must question whether supporting such a project aligns with our sustainability goals.

The former Stelco lands should be leveraged for industries that provide real, tangible benefits to Hamiltonians, rather than catering to external entities with disproportionate advantages. Let's unite in urging city officials to reconsider this proposal and prioritize the needs and welfare of our community over short-term economic gains.

I call on you, fellow residents and supporters, to join me in advocating for a more sustainable and equitable future for Hamilton. Sign this petition to stop the Steelport AI Data Centre from being built, and let's work together to ensure our city's resources are utilized for the greater good. Together, we can make our voices heard and preserve Hamilton's future.