---
title: "Bradford says Toronto should welcome AI data centres; Chow has paused new approvals"
description: "The two leading Toronto mayoral candidates laid out opposite positions on AI data centres at a Scarborough debate on October 7, 2026."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/news/bradford-chow-data-centres-october-8"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:10:29.762Z"
---

Mayoral candidate [Brad Bradford](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/brad-bradford) says Toronto should welcome AI data centres, while Mayor [Olivia Chow](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/olivia-chow) has paused new approvals pending assessments of the impact on the city's water supply and electricity grid. NOW Toronto reported the candidates' positions after a Scarborough mayoral debate on October 7, 2026.

When asked at the debate whether data centres belong in Toronto, Bradford answered directly: "Yes, they do belong." His campaign told NOW Toronto that data centres already operate across the city and that opposing them would be "irresponsible," given they create jobs, support internet access, and keep data under Canadian rules.

Chow declined to give a yes-or-no answer at the debate. "I've put a pause in... right now, nothing is being built," she said. Her campaign told NOW Toronto the pause protects Toronto's water supply, electricity grid, and local communities from the demands that large data centres place on those systems.

Bradford responded to Chow's answer: "This is not leadership."

## Why the issue is growing

Large data centres use high amounts of electricity to run servers and still more water for cooling. Ontario released a Data Centre Playbook in August 2026 setting out assessment criteria including electricity costs, water use, noise, and community contributions. Other Ontario cities have already acted: Mississauga voted for a one-year moratorium on new data centres in July 2026 and Hamilton voted for a similar restriction, according to NOW Toronto.

Toronto has not passed a full moratorium. Chow's pause is an administrative decision, not a council vote.

## What each candidate says the approach means for jobs

Bradford's campaign says opposing data centres would cost Toronto jobs and economic activity. Chow's campaign has not published a separate jobs estimate for the pause. Neither figure has been independently verified.

## What you can do before October 26

Voters can check each candidate's full platform before election day on October 26 at [voche.me's Toronto candidates page](/on/toronto-2026/candidates#mayor). Advance polls are open until October 11. Toronto residents can confirm their registration and find their polling place at toronto.ca/vote.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/on/toronto-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.