Hundreds marched against AI data centres in Vancouver on October 3, and candidates say where they stand
Hundreds of people marched from Mount Pleasant to downtown Vancouver on October 3 to oppose AI data centres. CBC News reported on four council candidates' positions on a moratorium: two COPE candidates and a Vancouver Greens candidate say they support one, while one Bright Future candidate does not.
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Hundreds of people marched from Mount Pleasant to downtown Vancouver on Saturday, October 3, to oppose AI data centres in the city, CBC News reported on October 4. CBC News reporter Arden McLeod wrote that the march was part of what organizers described as an international day of protest against AI, with more than a dozen events in Canadian cities.
Torin Larocque, founder of No AI Vancouver, told CBC he wants voters to know which council candidates oppose building data centres in Vancouver before they vote on October 17. "Which candidates are against AI," he said, according to CBC.
The Mount Pleasant rezoning
The march connects to a specific proposal. Vancouver city council voted in July 2026 to send a Mount Pleasant AI data centre rezoning application back to staff for further public consultation, CBC News reported. The article says hundreds of people had signed up to speak at a planned public hearing. Larocque told CBC that was part of the reason council sent the application back.
Further public consultation on the rezoning will not begin until after the October 17 election, according to the CBC article.
Council candidates on a moratorium
CBC News collected positions from four council candidates.
Chloe Leslie of COPE told CBC that Vancouverites do not want AI data centres and that there has been almost no consultation. She said the issue is part of a broader economic system that she says prioritizes the ultra-wealthy over the needs of others, and she supports a moratorium on AI data centres. You can read her candidate page at /candidates/chloe-leslie.
Solomon Yi-Kieran of COPE told CBC they had heard about AI at doors as much as housing and affordability. They said the city has control over zoning decisions and support a moratorium. You can read their candidate page at /candidates/solomon-yi-kieran.
Bridget Burns of the Green Party of Vancouver told CBC she does not hear AI data centre concerns often while door-knocking, but said she supports a moratorium until there is more regulation. You can read her candidate page at /candidates/bridget-burns.
Andy Lin of Bright Future Vancouver told CBC: "Everyone's fed up and they're tired. And now they're saying 'we're going to make your life worse with an AI data centre.'" CBC reported Lin said the issue signals a broader need for change in local government. The article did not report Lin using moratorium language. You can read his candidate page at /candidates/andy-lin.
CBC did not report positions from candidates of other parties on this question.
Deciding before October 17
Voters choosing council candidates on October 17 can weigh each candidate's position on AI data centres before they vote. The rezoning application goes to further public consultation only after the election, so the new council will be the body hearing those views.
Election day is Saturday, October 17, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Three advance voting days remain: October 7, October 10, and October 13. Council candidates are at /candidates.
Questions this story answers
What happened at the Vancouver AI data centre march on October 3, 2026?
According to CBC News, hundreds of people marched from Mount Pleasant to downtown Vancouver on October 3, 2026, to oppose AI data centres. CBC News reported the march was part of what organizers described as an international day of protest against AI, with more than a dozen events in Canadian cities that day. Torin Larocque, founder of No AI Vancouver, told CBC he wanted voters to know which council candidates oppose building data centres in Vancouver.
What is the Mount Pleasant AI data centre proposal about?
CBC News reported that Vancouver city council voted in July 2026 to send a rezoning application for a proposed AI data centre in Mount Pleasant back to staff for further public consultation. The article says hundreds of people had signed up to speak at the planned public hearing before the vote was sent back to staff. Further public consultation will not begin until after the October 17 election.
Where do council candidates stand on AI data centres?
According to CBC News, Chloe Leslie (COPE) and Solomon Yi-Kieran (COPE) both told CBC they support a moratorium on AI data centres. Bridget Burns (Green Party of Vancouver) told CBC she supports a moratorium until there is more regulation. Andy Lin (Bright Future Vancouver) told CBC the issue signals a need for change in local government but did not use the same moratorium language. CBC reported no positions from candidates of ABC Vancouver, TEAM, or the Vancouver Liberals on this question.
Why are protesters against AI data centres in Vancouver?
According to CBC News, protesters' concerns focus on energy use, water supply, and the level of public consultation. The article cites an International Energy Agency report from 2024 saying data centres used 1.5 per cent of global energy consumption, with that figure expected to more than double by 2030, growing at about four times the pace of all other sectors. These figures are from the IEA report as cited by CBC, not independently verified by voche.me.
What did Chloe Leslie say about AI data centres?
CBC News reported that Chloe Leslie, a council candidate with COPE, said the issue is part of a broader economic system that prioritizes the ultra-wealthy over the needs of others. Leslie told CBC that Vancouverites do not want AI data centres and that there has been almost no consultation. Leslie said she supports a moratorium on AI data centres. You can see her candidate page at /candidates/chloe-leslie.
What did Solomon Yi-Kieran say about AI data centres?
CBC News reported that Solomon Yi-Kieran, a council candidate with COPE, told CBC they had heard about AI at doors as much as housing and affordability. Yi-Kieran said the city has control over zoning decisions and supports a moratorium on AI data centres. Yi-Kieran said Vancouverites do not want these AI data centres and that there has been almost no consultation. You can see their candidate page at /candidates/solomon-yi-kieran.
What did Bridget Burns say about AI data centres?
CBC News reported that Bridget Burns, a council candidate with the Green Party of Vancouver, said she does not hear concerns about AI data centres often while door-knocking but supports a moratorium until there is more regulation. You can see her candidate page at /candidates/bridget-burns.
What did Andy Lin say about AI data centres?
CBC News reported that Andy Lin, a council candidate with Bright Future Vancouver, said the issue signals a broader need for change in local government. Lin told CBC: 'Everyone's fed up and they're tired. And now they're saying we're going to make your life worse with an AI data centre.' The article did not report Lin using moratorium language. You can see his candidate page at /candidates/andy-lin.
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