Mayoral Candidates Weigh In on Hyperscale Data Centers in Sault Ste. Marie

The mayoral candidates of Sault Ste. Marie were recently asked whether they would support hyperscale data centers in the city. Matthew Toffelmire expressed concerns about the environmental impact and the potential for the data centers to use too much power and water. He questioned the number of jobs that the data centers would bring, suggesting that they would largely be automated and require minimal maintenance.

Joshy McNally also expressed skepticism about the proposal, citing concerns about the potential environmental impact and the fact that the data centers would not bring significant economic benefits to the community. He stated that the city should prioritize preserving its natural environment rather than pursuing data centers.

Selva Rasiaih, on the other hand, argued that the city should consider building a data center, but only one that is small and focused on cybersecurity. He suggested that the Yates project, which is a smaller data center, would be a better option for the city.

Matthew Shoemaker stated that he would not support any data center that does not fit within the proposed municipal framework. He emphasized the importance of considering the environmental impact and job creation numbers before making a decision. He also stated that data centers are not a priority for the city's economic development.

Joel Rowswell expressed concerns about the lack of transparency in the process and the fact that the city did not consult with the public before proposing the data center. He stated that the city needs to listen to the people and do its due diligence before making a decision.