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Photo by Greg Southam/PostmediaOne of the most pressing questions facing the Canadian public right now is one that most people will have never been asked before, which is: are we techno-optimists?Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe answer to that question will influence a number of ballot-box issues in upcoming elections related to artificial intelligence and the data centres that support its expansion. It will also determine whether Canada embraces the coming tidal wave of change brought about by AI enough to have some control over its direction and share in its spoils, or if we are simply battered about by the forces of AI.While it’s been around for a while, the phrase “techno-optimist” was popularized by Silicon Valley investor Marc Andreessen a few years ago to describe those who believe that the future is friendly and that technological progress will be a force for good.The National Post newsletter that doesn’t hold back, giving readers the unvarnished truth on media, politics and culture.By signing up, you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Right? will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againIt doesn’t mean you ignore legitimate concerns. AI pioneers and executives themselves warn about the potential for catastrophe if things go off the rails. But the techno-optimist believes that these are obstacles to overcome, not reasons to reject the future.Currently, the Canadian public is on the fence about this progress. And we’re at risk of turning against it.A wave of anti-AI populism has flared up across the United States, with hundreds of municipalities banning data centres and over a dozen proposed state-wide bans. The trend has moved up here in recent months, with protests and calls for bans in some Canadian cities.Mississauga, Ont., has just enacted a one year moratorium on data centres as incumbent politicians who were previously in favour of them now trip over themselves to say who is more opposed to the facilities as they seek re-election in the October municipal election.It’s beyond the scope of this column to break down all the concerns about them — and the rebuttals by data centre advocates — but the claims include that the facilities use too much energy, too much water, will be intrusive and noisy and cost the taxpayer in the form of subsidies, handouts and increased energy rates.Some of these complaints are fearmongering, some are legitimate and can be addressed. And address them we should, because there are costs to missing out on welcoming such mega-projects.Canada is at risk of repeating the mistakes we made in letting our oil and gas sector be vilified, setting us back by more than a decade in developing key projects and enjoying their economic benefits.What we have now is primarily a communications problem. The public is exposed to plenty of arguments against data centres. But they’re not encountering many arguments in support of them.There is an entire subculture of Silicon Valley podcasts that present compelling and optimistic visions of the future of AI and its infrastructure. But they remain a subculture and aren’t filtering down into public consciousness to sway broader opinion.Because politics is downstream from culture, what the average voter thinks about an issue heavily influences policy. A politician who supported something one day can pivot the next to chase the mood of the electorate, as the Mississauga example shows.One of the most detailed and spirited defences of data centre expansion in Canada hasn’t come from an AI company or tech podcast, but from the province of Alberta.Premier Danielle Smith’s government recently launched an online explainer that breaks down what data centres are, how they will and won’t be constructed, along with facts and data to tackle residents’ concerns.“AI could add US$15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, and every dollar of it will flow through a data centre somewhere,” the explainer notes. “Refusing to build them would not make AI go away. It would just mean the jobs, taxes and investment land somewhere else, while Albertans keep using digital services powered by someone else’s economy.”The highly readable document presents the province’s policy journey as heavy-lifting that can now be copied by others: “Some (jurisdictions) let data centres connect faster than new power could be built, and household bills rose. Some handed out billions in tax breaks,” the explainer adds. “Alberta spent two years studying those mistakes and wrote rules to prevent them.”Ontario Premier Doug Ford also sees it this way, recently calling opponents to data centres “misinformed.” Ford’s government has just launched its own data centre policy framework that follows Alberta’s path.The federal Liberal government’s national AI strategy also aims to seize the moment in data centre creation. However, it’s written more for stakeholders and industry than the regular reader.Canada is at an important crossroads: The feds and large provinces are supportive of data centres. But polling shows the public is divided. And opposition is strongest at the municipal level, where local politicians are pressured to say no to future projects. Which way will we go?Let’s go the techno-optimist route and embrace the future. To be successful at that, AI advocates need to get louder and recognize they are within a window of opportunity that can be hijacked by noisy opposition if they don’t move fast.National Post anthony@furey.caAnthony Furey is a former journalist and past Toronto mayoral candidate who now works in corporate consulting. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.