Campaign · Oct 3, 2026
I’ve heard the concerns: higher hydro bills, noise, diesel fumes, water use, and deals made behind closed doors. Those concerns are real, and residents deserve to be heard before anything is decided, not after.
So my approach is caution first, people first.
No approval without consultation
Before any data centre is approved, the people who live and work nearby are consulted at the start, with plain-language information about how much power and water it will use, how much noise it will make, and what it means for their bills. And the city reports back on what was heard and how it changed the decision.
No secret deals
Every agreement is made public.
Residents never pay the cost
If a project goes ahead, the company pays for any grid upgrades, not families through their hydro bills. And it can never take power capacity we need for homes, transit and schools.
Protect health and neighbourhoods
Kept away from homes, strict limits on noise and backup generators, and no strain on our water supply.
If it doesn’t serve Toronto, the answer is no
Any project must show real benefits for the community, such as local jobs, waste heat used to warm homes and community centres, and a fair return to the city.
I’m an engineer. I’ll judge every proposal on the evidence and on what the affected community tells us. Not on what the company wants.
Dr. Bahira Abdulsalam
Independent Candidate for Mayor of Toronto
Be The Change Movement
