City councillors in Sault Ste. Marie rejected a proposal to stop new data center projects after a 90-minute debate on Monday night. The decision followed a recent petition opposing a cybersecurity and training center, including a data center, approved by the city council in December 2025. Led by Protexxa and Missanabie Cree First Nation, the project aims to utilize AI for cyber issue resolution.
During the council meeting, Ward 3 Coun. Angela Caputo suggested a temporary control bylaw to pause new data center proposals until further policies were in place. Despite initial hesitation from Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and some councillors, Caputo eventually withdrew the motion. Instead, a new motion is expected to be presented on August 31, focusing on developing specific city policies for data centers with public input opportunities.
The proposed moratorium is not anticipated to impact the approved Protexxa data center project on Yates Avenue. Mayor Shoemaker highlighted the distinction between different data center types, mentioning the power requirements of “hyperscale” facilities compared to the Protexxa project’s modest energy needs. City officials assured that the existing power infrastructure can support the planned data center.
Peter Tonazzo, the city’s planning director, emphasized that the Sault already accommodates similar-sized server rooms for various uses. City CAO Tom Vair mentioned the necessity of council approval for any data center rezoning. Shoemaker defended the decision-making process for the Protexxa project, stating that existing procedures ensure practical and sustainable developments.