Hamilton planning staff aim to bring an AI data centre study plan to Planning Committee on December 1

What staff told Council

In a communication update to the Mayor and Council dated October 19, 2026, the City's Planning Division says staff are starting work on an Artificial Intelligence Data Centres Study and will bring an interim report with background information and a scope of work, including a public engagement strategy and a plan to consult Indigenous communities. The update says the interim report is targeted for the December 1, 2026 meeting of the Planning and Economic Development Committee. The City's eSCRIBE meetings calendar lists a Planning Committee meeting that day at 9:30 a.m. in Council Chambers at Hamilton City Hall, 71 Main Street West, with no agenda posted as of October 30.

What Council asked for in June

The update says that on June 24, 2026, Council passed a motion on a municipal framework for the development of data centres in Hamilton. It directed staff to review the City's land use planning policies for data centres in all zones where the use is permitted, including its Official Plans and zoning by-laws, and any required changes to policies, mapping and the regulatory framework. According to the update, Council asked for an interim report to Planning Committee covering these items.

1. The study's scope of work, including financial and staffing resources and the need for outside consultants.
2. A plan to consult Indigenous communities.
3. A public engagement strategy.
4. The current federal, provincial and municipal rules for AI data centres, with updates on legislative changes.
5. Information from Alectra and other electrical utilities on the potential costs and other impacts of electrical infrastructure.
6. Legal advice on any options available should the federal or provincial government attempt to force an AI data centre to be developed in Hamilton.

When staff describe the December 1 report themselves, the update says it will address Council's direction by setting out a work plan to complete the study and a consultation and engagement plan, and its next steps list background information on federal and provincial initiatives, a scope of work for the study, and a consultation and engagement plan. Neither passage mentions the Alectra information or the legal advice.

The province's proposed Data Centre Playbook

Ontario's Environmental Registry posting 026-0853, Economic and Strategic Assessment Framework for New Data Centres, was posted on August 13, 2026, with comments open to September 12. It proposes a Data Centre Playbook that would assess proposed data centres against three pillars, which it names as advancing economic development, protecting data security and digital sovereignty, and investing in communities and earning public trust. The posting also proposes a separate electricity rate class for large new data centres, which it gives as, for example, greater than 1 megawatt.

The City says comments from staff across a broad range of departments went to the province by the September 12 deadline. It says they centred on climate and sustainability, infrastructure impacts and cost responsibility, economic and community benefits, meaningful consultation and public trust, and a clear and transparent evaluation process. Staff say they have identified the December 1 committee date to present two reports: the interim study report, and the City's response to the posting. The update does not name any specific data centre site or proposal in Hamilton.