A Very Costly Innovation

 

Having instant answers at one's beck and call would seem to be a dream come true. Ask any question and get an almost instant answer, complete with citations and statistics. What would have seemed like magic but a few years ago is now becoming commonplace.

Artificial intelligence is here, and it's not going away. The question then becomes, "How do we regulate it?"

And there is no doubt that regulation is needed, if not because of its outsized social influence on people's lives, then because of its huge demands upon the environment and its resources. Consider, for example, the following A.I centre being planned by Kevin O'Leary for Alberta:

The project is planned for approximately 65 square kilometres owned by the Municipal District of Greenview, including Crown land transferred to them in a series of purchase agreements. A plot that size would fit about 130 West Edmonton Malls.

Physicist  Robert Davies has a well-considered description of such megaprojects:

“From here on, I’ll refer to these energy-and-heat behemoths—massive compute fused with massive power generation—as Gigascale AI Smelters, smelting data and material strip-mined from people and planet.”

At a realistic generation efficiency for a gas plant, Davies said supplying 9 GW of electricity would mean “burning fuel at a continuous rate on the order of 16 to 18 GW, day and night, year-round.”

 And this project cannot be  looked upon in isolation.

Because numerous companies are already extracting resources from the area, creating “dense access networks through the surrounding forest,” Davies said cumulative effects studies should be done and a “whole systems analysis” is needed.

Wonder Valley is proposed in a region struggling with drought conditions, about 460 kilometres north of Edmonton, near Grande Prairie, Alberta, sitting on one of the world’s largest gas deposits, the Montney Formation.

“Everything is connected: feedback loops in complex systems like this mean effects of one kind generate other effects of other kinds,” Davies wrote. 

“Essentially the entire fuel burn ends up as heat released at the site, because the electricity is consumed onsite and degrades, in full, to heat.”

An open house was held to 'allay' concerns, but judging by some of the comments, it did not achieve its objective.

 Ret Louise, another Grande Prairie resident, posted her concerns on Facebook after attending the open house, asking “why should anyone trust what Kevin O’Leary says?” Louise added that ordinary Albertans are left bearing the risks of billionaires granted approvals without Indigenous consultation.

She emphasized the need to protect water resources and air quality, mitigate impacts to wildlife, and align major projects with the province’s long-term interests. Sturgeon Lake is preparing to argue in court that the Crown failed to uphold its duty to consult with the First Nation in granting a water licence for Wonder Valley. O’Leary is challenging the Nation’s assertion the municipality had a duty to consult.

It would be foolish to look upon this megaproject as a one-off, and signs are that the public is becoming increasingly concerned about environmental and quality of life issues surrounding A.I. data centres. For example, a recent committee of adjustment meeting in Hamilton drew hundreds to the council chambers over a proposed severance of land to facilitate the building of one on former Stelco lands. Their collective voice was so strong that the severance was denied. That doesn't mean the project will not ultimately come to fruition, but at least a public obstacle has been placed in the path to development.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and his government have embraced A.I. as one of the keys to Canada's future. One can only hope that future is not embraced at any cost. 

Refreshing And Succinct

I was writing recently about the sad state of politics in Ontario under Doug Ford. Manitoba offers a refreshing contrast under its NDP government, led by Wab Kinew who, according to friends in that province, is doing a fine job for the people.

I especially like his response to American whiners like Pete Hoekstra and Jamieson Greer, who demand that 'trade irritants', such as the ban on American alcohol in most provinces, be rescinded.

UPDATED: Summertime

 

"Summertime, and the living is easy", or so goes the song. With the Ontario legislature rising for for an almost five-month recess after having sat for a gruelling 29 days this spring, this will surely be the case for our MPPs. For the rest of us, maybe not so much.

Clearly, Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives prefer the natural heat of the summer to the sauna-like conditions provided by opposition parties at Queen's Park:

The 148-day recess — after MPPs sat just 30 days since an unusually long winter hiatus — has opposition parties accusing Ford of avoiding scrutiny over controversies like student loan cuts and his purchase of a $28.9-million jet dubbed the “gravy plane.”

“This government can’t get out of this place fast enough because we are calling them to account every day,” New Democrat Leader Marit Stiles said Tuesday after grilling Ford in question period over affordability issues, branding him “out of touch.” 

 Green Leader Mike Schreiner scoffed at that rationale to justify a five-month break.

“They directly interfered in Toronto elections back in 2018 so it’s BS,” Schreiner charged, referring to Ford’s move to cut the size of Toronto city council before that year’s municipal vote. 

“The only reason we’re not here is Doug Ford can’t take the heat,” said interim Liberal leader John Fraser, who trolled Ford over the jet in the legislature by handing the premier silver pilot wings to pin on his lapel.

My guess is that Ford thinks this long recess will heal all wounds, the kinds that he has inflicted by his dictatorial style of governance. And yet to anyone who cares about democracy and holding our representatives to account, this is a flagrant and deep insult, one many of us will not forget. 

We cannot forget, for example, being saddled with an inept and corrupt government, (will the RCMP investigation, which will reach its three-year mark in October, ever end?). 

We cannot forget that here is a man with such a parochial vision that he governs like the mayor of Toronto. Here are some of his 'achievements' :

• bike lane removals, 
• the pending expropriation of land for an expanded Billy Bishop Airport, 
• the removal of speed cameras in school zones, 
• the closing of the Ontario Science Centre, 
• the shady deal to get a luxury spa built on the waterfront

And as the premier, Ford has presided over 

• schools in crisis
• growing homelessness and addiction
• hallway medicine
• downloading that has left municipal taxpayers barely hanging on
• tunnel-under-highway schemes that would cost countless billions
• an expensive purchase of a jet, later rescinded after widespread outcries
• gutting the OSAP program, leaving many students in precarious positions
• etc. etc.etc.

The voting public has granted Ford considerable leeway, given his Captain Canada schtick, playing Mark Carney's pitbull against the deranged Donald Trump, but after a certain point, that persona grows old. 

One of my biggest beefs is the massive spending of taxpayers' dollars on how well Ontario is doing in protecting jobs, making life more affordable, etc. to the tune of at least $103 million in 2025. They are a regular feature of ads during newscasts and a multitude of other broadcasts. *

Marit Stiles, the provincial NDP leader, offers this withering assessment of the Ford regime and its sad record:

They say you can run but you cannot hide. One hopes that those who oppose this government will hold it to account, both within and without the legislature.

* UPDATE: Here are some letters to the editor that attest to Ontarian's dismay over the ads:

‘Truth in advertising’ should apply to Ford government

The Ford government’s relentless marketing machine, May 30

I couldn’t help but read the full-page advertisement the Ford government recently placed in the Star regarding Ontario’s bail system. At the bottom of the page there was a small message: “Paid for by the Government of Ontario.” I’ve heard that phrase used frequently in the government’s radio ads, too. It strikes me that, in fact, the ads were ultimately paid for by Ontario taxpayers. I believe this material should instead indicate that it’s been “Paid for by the Government of Ontario on behalf of the taxpayers of Ontario.”

Richard Kadziewicz, Toronto

The Ford government is misusing taxpayer dollars by purchasing what are clearly campaign ads. These ads should be paid for by the Progressive Conservative party. We need a provincial government that’s willing to ensure every Ontarian has access to safe shelter, healthy food and high-quality health care.

Marcia Zalev, Toronto

It seems I can’t watch a Blue Jays game or turn on the radio or even go to the movies these days without seeing or hearing these Ford government ads. Just how much are these adds costing our province? And by the way, the disclaimer should read: “Paid for by the taxpayers of Ontario.” Shame on Premier Doug Ford for squandering our tax dollars.

Mary Lou Calce, Toronto

The Ford government needs to stop spending Ontario taxpayers’ money on advertisements touting how well the province is ostensibly doing. It seems whenever I turn on the television, I see another commercial telling us how successful the Tories have been on housing, jobs and the economy. I don’t need expensive TV ads trying to convince me everything is going well. The money should be directed toward essential public services instead. Education and health care are facing real pressures. Schools in Ontario are stretched thin and classrooms are overcrowded. Our hospitals continue to struggle with staffing shortages and long wait times. These are the areas in which taxpayer money could make a meaningful difference. Government advertising should provide necessary information to the public, not serve as a marketing campaign. When I see these commercials, I don’t feel reassured; I feel my money is being wasted. Ford should focus less on self-promotion and more on funding the public services Ontarians rely on.

Lee Hull, Godfrey, Ont.

I read with interest a letter to the editor written by Lee Hull of Godfrey, Ont. This letter, which is critical of the Ford government’s relentless advertising campaigns, should be republished on a daily basis so that more Ontarians are made aware of how Ford is wasting our tax dollars. I’d like to know how much is really being spent on these ads that serve only to pat the PCs on the back. As Hull notes, the premier should be spending that money on improving provincial services instead.

Judy Worsley, Toronto

Old Or New - What's The Difference?

 Robert Rech gives us the opportunity to ponder the question:

Consumer Protection: A Contemporary Oxymoron?

As a consumer, it has always been my practice to get the best possible deal. Whether it be electronics, clothes, optional grocers, you name it - I have always waited for sales and discounts before purchasing. Impulse control has never been a problem for me. 

However, there is one area in which consumers have little power, and that is in the airline industry, especially when it comes to the misnamed Air Passenger Protection Regulations. Enacted ostensibly to protect the Canadian flying public, it is supposed to, among other things, provide compensation for flight delays within the control of the airlines, And therein lies the rub.

If you have ever tried to file a claim, you will know that the deck is stacked against you, because the standard airline response is that the circumstances necessitating the delay were beyond the airline's control. and even if you have grounds to appeal, the tribunal's backlog would give you pause.

A personal experience perhaps best illustrates how the cards are stacked against the flying public.  In 2025,  we were travelling to Cuba via Air Canada, but were delayed on the tarmac for close to three hours and 40 minutes. The initial reason was the netting in the plane's cargo bay required repair. Once that was effected, a new problem arose: a frozen water line. (That problem, by the way, was never fixed, bottled water in the washrooms being the immediate solution.) The third reason  was the delay meant some of the crew exceeded their hours, and had to be rotated out.

While waiting for the flight to depart, we were issued food vouchers that could only be used in the next 72 hours, within the air terminal. Since we were not allowed off the plane, that was a useless measure; instead, we were given protein bars by the flight attendants that were seriously out of date.

Passengers were understandably upset, and most intended to file for compensation, as did I. However, that request from the airline was immediately denied upon our return, the stated reason being the circumstances were beyond their control. There was no forum in which to contest this finding, and ultimately the only recourse would have been to go to small claims court, which would have necessitated a payment of $108. I decided to cut my losses at that point, since success in court was far from assured. 

Why am I writing about this today? An article in The Star suggests that even these anemic regulations are just too much for airlines to endure.

WestJet has been trying to make the case that removing passenger rights regulations would lead to more competition among airlines, according to an internal government document. 

A briefing note, prepared for Canada’s associate deputy minister of finance Alison O’Leary, reveals that the country’s second-largest air carrier requested a private meeting with the Department of Finance Canada last October to discuss how to “ensure aviation continues to drive growth and opportunities for Canadians.”  

The document, obtained via Access to Information and Privacy, says that WestJet has criticized the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) for increasing airlines’ operating costs. 

“WestJet is of the view that competition in the industry has improved since pre-pandemic, citing the rise of smaller airlines, such as Flair and Porter,” the document reads. “However, it argues that lower fees on air tickets and the removal of the APPR would result in more competition.”

This claim about competition is risible, according to air passenger rights Gabor Lukacs.

 “If I was WestJet’s CEO, I would not want any competition. I would want to make it as monopolistic or duopolistic for maximizing profit,” he told the Star. 

“There are a number of reasons why passenger rights are important,” Lukács went on. “If someone genuinely cares about the Canadian airline industry and the Canadian tourism industry remaining competitive, then that’s one very good reason for (passenger rights) because they have it in Europe.”

Lukács added that Canadian airlines will be more attractive to consumers if they offer the same passenger protections as European ones. 

And so it goes. My entire life I have fought for my rights when I think they have been abused, but I am doubtful that this is a winnable battle. I expect no improvements, only diminution, of air passenger rights under our current federal government, which has been on a mission since the election to extol the private sector, even at the expense of 'ordinary' Canadians.   

 

Each Of Us Is The Resistance

One of the most diabolical efforts of both the corporate and American political world is to convince us that we, as individuals, have no power, and that resistance is futile. The more they can make us feel atomized, the more they can reduce us to being simply cogs servicing their machines, nothing more.

But those powers fail to reckon with a simple fact: we do have power. Take, for example, the Trump attempt to reduce our country to a vassal state. Every time we refuse to buy American produce, every time we refuse to travel to the U.S.,  everytime we buy Canadian alcohol, we are actively engaging in the resistance that obstructs and prevents the realization of their vile vision.

If we tend to forget or doubt our strength, the following video serves to strongly remind us of our power. While I don't think the suggestions near the end about American cars is necessarily realistic, the thrust of Klaus Kellerman's argument is solid.

Resistance is never futile. May we always remember that, and may we always stay strong in our convictions.

The People Speak

  

Sometime when I write, I wonder how many of my views are shared by others. Given current media political coverage, it is often difficult to gauge. That is one of the reasons I always read newspapers' letters-to-the-editor section. And it is there that I almost always find a basis for hope, offering proof as they do that critical thinking is not dead.

The following take issue with the direction the Carney Liberals are taking.

Carney, Smith sign carbon price deal, suggest fall 2027 pipeline approval, May 15

As a lifelong Canadian and supporter of Liberal governments I am very disappointed by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s oil and gas agreement with Alberta.

Surely clean air to breathe is a priority for the good health of Canadians. Surely a sustainable way forward is harnessing solar, wind and other non-polluting energies.

Let’s leave our children and their children energy sources that provide clean breathable air, good water to drink and heating and cooling sources that don’t shorten lives.

Judith Murray, Burlington

 

When is our government going to finally put the environment first?

I am a scientist who has worked hard to learn about, teach and protect our earth and its environment.

May I suggest members of the federal Liberal party (and everyone else for that matter) read the following two books: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (a quick five-minute read) and Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (about an hour’s read).

If you don’t have time, here are two quotes I think sum up what is being done to our environment under the current government, with its many new bills and policies.

Rachel Carson: “The most alarming of all man’s assaults upon the environment is the contamination of air, earth, rivers, and sea with dangerous and even lethal materials.”

Dr. Seuss: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

I have learned over the years we must constantly fight for our environment in both good economic times and the bad ones. As a government priority it has never been given the attention it deserves.

It is time to put solar energy, wind power and the protection of animal and plant habitat on the front burner. It is time for companies to prove something is safe before they are permitted to sell it rather than waiting 10 to 20 years to see the effects on our environment.

It is time for companies to put money up front, before they begin fracking, building pipelines, or transporting toxic materials through our waterways and along our roads, to cover the cost of the inevitable environmental spills that will occur.

Who is going to put the environment first? Who is going to make Canada a great economy built on protecting our environment?

Because, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

Yvonne Clifford, Cambridge, Ont.

Oil is a dirty and finite resource. The sun is neither

I boggles my mind why Canada and Alberta are spending enormous amount of money, time and expertise on extracting dirty oil and building expensive pipelines to generate electricity and other forms of energy. Why indeed, when in about 40 years oil will be depleted, as it is a finite resource.

But the sun will shine for millions, perhaps billions, of years, providing free energy to everyone on Earth.

Gwen Petreman, Barrie, Ont. 

As long as the spirit of resistance and critical thinking are alive, falling into despair is not an option.