Tag Archives: Colleen James

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-08-13- AI Boom Raises Questions as Waterloo Region Studies Data Centre Impacts

Leave a comment

CKMS News -2026-08-13- AI Boom Raises Questions as Waterloo Region Studies Data Centre Impacts

Eren Yoruk

Kitchener, ON — Waterloo Region Council has unanimously passed a motion to study the potential impacts of future data centre development in the Region, following concerns raised by residents about water use, electricity demand and infrastructure.

Regional Councillor Colleen James brought the motion during Tuesday’s Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development Committee meeting. It directs Regional staff to examine the economic, environmental, infrastructure and fiscal implications of data centres, as well as community safeguards and best practices in other jurisdictions.

The council approved the motion with two amendments, including additional consideration of source water protection and impacts on traditional lands. Regional staff will report their findings back to Council by the first quarter of 2027.

The discussion comes as the rapid growth of artificial intelligence drives demand for larger and more energy-intensive data centres across Canada and beyond.

Waterloo Region already hosts data centres, including Ascent’s facility in Cambridge. James says the motion is not intended to approve or reject any specific project, but to help the Region understand how future facilities could affect its infrastructure and environment.

Residents who spoke at the meeting raised particular concerns about water consumption and the Region’s reliance on groundwater.

James says the goal is to gather information now so future councils can make informed decisions about data centre development.

Meet The Candidate, Meet The Candidate - 2025 Provincial Election, Shows

Meet The Candidate: Colleen James, Liberal candidate for Kitchener Centre

Leave a comment

A woman with black hair wearing black-rimmed glasses, a black jacket and a beige turtleneck sweater sits at a microphone.
Colleen James
Colleen James, Liberal candidate for Kitchener Centre, came to the CKMS-FM studio on Friday 21 February 2025 to talk to the voters.

See all episodes.

Podcast

Download: meet-the-candidate-colleen-james-liberal-candidate-for-kitchener-centre.mp3, 23 MBytes.

Subscribe to the podcast!CKMS sunflower logo with wavies coming out the sides

Video

YouTube: Meet The Candidate: Colleen James, Liberal candidate for Kitchener Centre

The views expressed in this program are not necessarily those of the Radio Waterloo Board of Directors, volunteers, sponsors, or advertisers.

All candidates in Waterloo Region were invited by e-mail, the party’s online contact form, or on social media. Some have declined to participate, others have not responded.

The candidate’s presentation, the podcast, and the show notes are Copyright © 2025 by the participants, and released under a CC BYCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You are free to use this material, as long as you provide credit and a link back to this page.

The theme music used in Meet The Candidate is Falling Sky by Jason Shaw of AudionautiX.com and used under a CC BYCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Federal government announces $25 million for affordable housing builds, repairs in Waterloo Region

Leave a comment

MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

The federal government has announced over $96 million in contributions and loans aimed at affordable housing across South Central Ontario, including Waterloo Region.

Locally, the funding amounts to $25 million which will help create 336 new affordable homes and repair more than 7,300 homes in the region.

The announcement was made at an affordable housing construction site in Kitchener on Thursday. The event was attended by political representatives, including Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Regional Coun. Colleen James, and the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development of Canada Jenna Sudds, who made the announcement on behalf of Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.

Key local projects that will receive this funding, include the revitalization project at 82 Wilson Ave., St. Mark’s Place in Kitchener and the Beaver Creek Housing Cooperative in Waterloo.

The federal government has also introduced a “frequent builder” status to streamline funding applications for experienced builders.

CKMS has more on the story.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Time’s up for the Wastewater Surveillance Initiative in Waterloo Region

Leave a comment

MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

As of July 31st, the Ontario government will discontinue the Wastewater Surveillance Initiative. Unlike situations in Peterborough and Ottawa, funding for the program has not materialized from the Region of Waterloo. Councillor Colleen James updated CKMS News on the situation locally stating the Region is seeking federal support to keep the regional surveillance programs operational.

Wastewater surveillance data has fueled numerous research projects and imparted information that health authorities could rely on to accurately predict and prepare for illness outbreaks.

The cancellation has had its critics, including Professor Trevor Charles, director of the Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research.

Professor Charles discusses the potential for negative impact on public health preparedness and the loss of a world-leading research community in Ontario. The Ottawa Science Policy Network highlights that 95 researchers will be affected, potentially leading to a brain drain.

Despite government assurances of continued efforts, the Public Health Agency of Canada has not disclosed any plans to take over the initiative.