Nova Scotia Teachers' Association Accuses Premier of Political Intimidation Over Complaint to Professor
The Association of Nova Scotia University Teachers says Premier Tim Houston threatened academic freedom after his office emailed a Toronto Metropolitan University professor to criticize his comments on a proposed $10-billion AI data centre in Point Tupper, N.S.
A dispute over a proposed $10-billion artificial intelligence data centre in Point Tupper, N.S., has escalated into accusations of political intimidation against Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston. The Association of Nova Scotia University Teachers says the premier's office crossed a line by formally complaining to an academic who publicly questioned the project.
Sibo Chen, a communications professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, recently gave an interview to CBC News in which he stated that public concerns about the AI data centre project were valid. Following the broadcast, a communications adviser with the premier's office emailed Chen directly. The message described his comments as "slanted and irresponsible" and was copied to both a CBC News reporter and the chair of Chen's department.
Premier Houston told reporters he was glad a staffer in his office sent the complaint, stating that Chen's comments about the data centre were wrong. The premier's office has disagreed with the characterization of its actions as political intimidation, claiming instead that it maintains a productive relationship with academic institutions in the province.
Mathew Reichertz, president of the Association of Nova Scotia University Teachers, condemned the email. He stated that the premier's response threatens academic freedom and raises questions about the potential consequences for academics who challenge provincial projects.
The controversy centres on a major development announced by EverWind Fuels, which revealed that U.S. AI company Anthropic had signed a 20-year lease for the Point Tupper facility. The announcement sparked significant public opposition. As of Wednesday afternoon, a petition on Change.org calling to stop the development of AI data centres in Nova Scotia had gathered over 24,000 signatures.