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JEmphatically

@JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

mastodon 4.8.0-alpha.3+glitch

She/her grandma, journalist, photographer, worrier, playlist-maker, environmentalist, introvert. Former tar sands PR, public servant and political organizer. Stop the genocide.
Signal JodyMacPherson.64

Profile pic of me, black-framed glasses, light brown hair, graying rapidly!

Header photo is of a robotic dragon belching out fire with a Hudsons Bay store sign reflected in the background.

Born: 319.65 ppm

About me: https://bluedotliving.com/the-shift-from-public-relations-for-fossil-fuels-to-environmental-reporter/

672 Followers

449 Following

50 Posts

Joined November 19, 2022

Settler - Scottish/Irish:

Mohkinstsis, Treaty 7 #landback

My Substack newsletter:

https://jodymacpherson.substack.com

JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2w ago

With the public clamouring to have a say in data centre projects in their communities. The federal government thought it WOULD BE FINE if they didn’t ask for public input on its “responsible data centre principles.” So they got together with a bunch of mayors and a bunch of big tech companies this past summer to come up with principles meant to reassure the public. I can’t tell you how many times I heard AI and data centre proponents talking about the need to build public trust at the AI event in Montreal. Everyone there seemed perplexed why there was a large protest outside the conference and an even larger number of Canadians opposed to data centres in their communities. Maybe they should stop doing everything behind closed doors, but what do I know. Read my latest for The Energy Mix! https://www.theenergymix.com/no-public-input-on-ottawas-public-input-principles-for-data-centre-development/ #ableg #cdnpoli #AIdatacentres #democracy #Environment

No Public Input on Ottawa’s Public Input Principles for Data Centre Development

No Public Input on Ottawa’s Public Input Principles for Data Centre Development

The federal government is urging data centre developers to commit to transparent and early engagement with communities, yet drafted the principles guiding that expansion behind closed doors—and without direct public consultation.

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 3w ago

Boosted by @trending@homestead.social

Well, this is a blockbuster of a document leak. So, the goal is more revenue for government coffers and too bad that Albertans will have to empty their wallets. Huh. Great work by The Narwhal bringing this to light! https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-ai-data-centre-takeover-cabinet-doc/ #ableg #cdnpoli #AIdatacentres

Leaked doc suggests Alberta has an AI data centre masterplan | The Narwhal

Leaked doc suggests Alberta has an AI data centre masterplan | The Narwhal

Alberta mulls rewriting laws, creating new Crown corporations, taking over natural gas supply systems, higher prices for consumers for AI data centre and oil push: leaked doc

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

UPDATE: It appears Danielle Smith has not yet implemented her own version of the SAVE Act in Alberta. Even Trump hasn't been able to get that legislation passed in the US. Elections Alberta's website confirms that government ID is NOT required to vote. You need two pieces of ID, only one has to have your current address and a photo ID is not required. So the Alberta law on government-issued ID disproportionately impacts women's rights by failing to recognize that women have been changing their names when they get married and will now need proof of marriage before they can get an ID or renew their drivers' licence, but voting rights remain intact. You need a photo ID to access your online healthcare info also. And they don't mention anything about THAT in the fluffy advertising campaign they've launched about the new rules. 🤬

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

We're burning up. I've spent so many summers in the Okanagan, such a beautiful, peaceful place. Fire has always been a part of the story, but not at the scale, frequency and ferocity we're seeing now. Politicians in Canada have decided to double oil and gas production using data centres, approve a major thermal coal mine expansion and declare a bitumen pipeline in the national interest. Smith and Carney are the reckless partnership we all feared, working together to ensure Big Oil and Brookfield profits as people suffer and the places we love go up in flames. 😪

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 1mo ago

My mom lives in a seniors' home. Now that she's received her special ballot package, she has been telling other seniors about how many questions there are, etc. They didn't believe her so she brought out her 10 ballots to show them. The reaction ranged from astonishment, to anger to bewilderment. They had previously questioned her as to why she even needed a special ballot since they usually have polling station right at her residence building. Try to picture 100 seniors with various mobility issues lining up to fill out 10 ballots that most were unaware of until they showed up on Oct. 19. The only question most had heard about was the one about separation. You can't have direct democracy when people don't even understand the questions, and no one has taken the time to explain them. See my earlier post about the readability of the questions which tests show are written for a post-grad level audience.

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 3w ago

Greenview Reeve says council doesn’t have time to “spoonfeed” information to residents. The Greenview media relations team did not acknowledge or reply to my questions. It seems like there may be a transparency problem. But Paul Palandjian, CEO of O’Leary Digital says his company is committed to Canada’s new data centre principles at the same time as they’re taking new legal action to block a court case brought by Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. And then there’s the 59-page purchase agreement that was so heavily redacted that only five pages could be viewed. Read the latest on Wonder Valley, the 9 GW proposed data centre planned for northern Alberta, as Minister Nate Glubish heads to Grande Prairie to face the community in the final data centre town hall this evening. https://www.theenergymix.com/release-the-oleary-filesalbertan-demands-answers-over-redacted-purchase-agreement-as-data-centre-backlash-mounts/ #ableg #cdnpoli #environment #AIDataCentres #WonderValleyAlberta #democracy

'Release the O'Leary Files': Data Centre Backlash Mounts

'Release the O'Leary Files': Data Centre Backlash Mounts

Ahead of the final provincial town hall to address Alberta’s growing data centre industry, one Grande Prairie resident wants to see details of a land purchase agreement signed between a municipality aiming to host the “world’s largest AI data centre park” and O’Leary Digital Ltd. (ODL), the company planning to build it.

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 1w ago

Replying to

RE: https://mstdn.ca/@JEmphatically/117198153729779729 UPDATE: It took three trips to the registry office before my mom finally received her photo ID card in the mail. I knew that she needed that ID card in order to set up her Alberta.ca account and receive the $100 Energy Rebate. Today, I tried to set that account up and discovered either we will need to visit the registry office yet again, or wait for a verification number to be mailed through Canada Post. There is a Sept. 30 deadline to receive the rebate. I wasn't expecting them to have the incorrect phone number. I should've known. Alberta Registries still had her phone number from three years ago...despite having just visited the registry office last month where we updated all of that information. Online verification, which I assumed would be working, required a phone number. The only other option was snail mail. Technology Minister Nate Glubish is so big on AI, yet the government clearly can't even get the basics right.

Quoting

@JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

UPDATE: My mom received her Alberta photo ID card in the mail! There were a number of ways this could've gone horribly wrong, and it has happened to others: -If she hadn't kept her marriage certificate; -if she couldn't afford to or didn't have someone to help her order one from the province where she was married; and -if she didn't have someone to help her navigate the process. I had to advocate for her with the registry office when they said they couldn't help her without her old driver's licence, which expired almost 10 years ago and didn't have her correct address (who keeps old driver licenses for 10 years?) I learned that in order for her to receive Alberta's $100 energy rebate, she needed this ID card (or a driver's licence) to verify her Alberta government online account. There are supports now set up privately via her seniors home to help others struggling with the rebate process. Red tape reduction for people does not appear to be as much as a priority as it is for corporations!

Open quoted post

JEmphatically: "UPDATE: My mom received her Alberta photo ID card…" - Mastodon Canada

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2w ago

Data centre protest tomorrow (Sept. 20) at 10 a.m. at the Sturgeon County Centre in Morinville. https://albertatransparencyproject.ca/public-notice

Public Notice — Alberta Transparency Project

albertatransparencyproject.ca

Public Notice — Alberta Transparency Project

Official notices, AUC filings, and public interest announcements related to data centre development across Alberta.

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2w ago

Replying to

Can someone please let Mark Carney know that he's been had? And by a former talk radio show host who smiled and played innocent, while he sold out his own supporters.

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@TrueNorthSpice@mastodon.world Oh, and I hear you about not changing your name. I never did and don't regret it, but for those women who choose to do so, it shouldn't put their democratic rights at risk.

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Read my recent story about the Olds data centre/power plant controversy, if you haven’t already, and get caught up on some new developments… For example, Synapse has hired a public affairs agency and registered lobbyists in Alberta. Who are they and what government departments are they targeting? Behind-the-scenes of this story: Find out who didn’t answer my questions and who’s on-the-hook for 680 local interveners’ legal costs. AUC explains the process they use to figure out how much Synapse will have to pay. Here’s my last story for The Energy Mix with details added! https://open.substack.com/pub/jodymacpherson/p/icymi-application-delayed-as-680?r=b0efu&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer #AIDataCentres #AIDataCenters #ableg #cdnpoli #

open.substack.com

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@lrt_writes@mstdn.party That's a big "if" - there are many, many societal pressures on women to change their last name. It would take a while to shift that and in the meantime, who know what other rights would be eroded.* Sure, women can change their behaviour, but we still need to fight any patriarchal decisions that fail to acknowledge the reality of women's lives. *corrected - see my note about voting ID requirements

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@TrueNorthSpice@mastodon.world I'm heartbroken, really. I've been fighting this since the 1990s, and I'll keep doing so, but FFS...

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

I've been reading reports...several of them...about data centres (of course!). What I discovered is coming out in my next article for The Energy Mix tomorrow. In the meantime, check out this excellent article that I was reading while writing my compiler story. "AI is turning out to be more expensive for businesses than paying their workers. And that could be one of the many triggers that collapses the fragile economic edifice that the dreams of AI are propping up." https://prospect.org/2026/07/08/great-ai-repricing-isnt-going-well/ #AIDataCentres #AIDataCenters #cdnpoli #ableg #abpoli #Meta #Facebook

The Great AI Repricing Isn’t Going Well - The American Prospect

The American Prospect

The Great AI Repricing Isn’t Going Well - The American Prospect

Companies are backing off on their AI spending. Because investors have made such big bets on AI coming to fruition, that’s a big problem.

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

There’s a vacuum of accurate information around AI data centres, and misinformation/disinformation is filling that void…to the detriment of local communities and governments. Canada’s Foreign Interference Commission said it was an existential threat to democracy. “What we’re seeing across all democracies, in Canada and across the world, is a high level of distrust in government, a high level of distrust in journalism and in public institutions.” But the federal government is lagging behind other countries in both creating regulations and funding solutions. Read my newest article for The Energy Mix. https://www.theenergymix.com/as-data-centres-multiply-government-silence-leaves-communities-exposed-to-misinformation/ #AIDataCentres #AIDataCenters #ableg #cdnpoli #democracy #journalism

As Data Centres Multiply, Government Silence Leaves Communities Exposed to Misinformation

As Data Centres Multiply, Government Silence Leaves Communities Exposed to Misinformation

As experts warn that misinformation and disinformation are existential threats to Canadian democracy, communities watching hyperscale data centres move into their neighbourhoods say they are being stonewalled by local leaders while the federal government lags on regulation.

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@TrueNorthSpice@mastodon.world correction, there's an option to vote without using govt-issued ID. At least that's the situation as of today! It's still confusing and the govt ID is still needed for other things, like accessing your online health info.

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@TrueNorthSpice@mastodon.world That's terrible! F the patriarchy.

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

“Hot people hate AI” - Photos from the Anti-AI protest in Calgary at the end of June. https://open.substack.com/pub/jodymacpherson/p/protest-featured-pokemon-llms-explained #protest #streetphotography #photography #AIDataCentres #AIDataCenters #ableg #cdnpoli #artificialIntelligence

open.substack.com

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@datum@zeroes.ca A good analogy!

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@TrueNorthSpice@mastodon.world you want to know the weirdest thing, I went online to order a mail in ballot for my mom (a lot easier than chauffeuring my mom around to vote) and no ID required at all. Lol. I guess something could still go wrong and I'll update once I receive it in the mail, but...why do we even need these new drivers license and photo ID requirements? Something is up...

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@newstik@social.heise.de @TrueNorthSpice@mastodon.world I don't know for sure, but I'd guess you'd have to provide documents showing the name change was done legally. They get to decide what is a valid document though, which is concerning with a provincial government controlled by separatists.

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

RE: https://mstdn.ca/@JEmphatically/116931674609108584 Now with the YouTube link! Glubish: "So the data centre is the digital refinery, the fiber is the digital pipeline. This is essentially a way for Albertans to benefit from their natural resources at a time when the rest of Canada is making it very difficult to build pipelines to move the hydrocarbons themselves." (Carney's MOU's and Major Projects promises don't even register...) #AIDataCentres #AIDataCenters #ableg #cdnpoli #democracy #fossilFuels

Quoting

@JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

Today's Alberta @ Noon on the CBC was a call-in show about data centres. It's not listed yet on the podcast page, but it was overwhelmingly negative callers. Someone needs to fact-check Nate Glubish because he tried to downplay the number of large data centres being proposed...1 or 2 is what he said and that is totally incorrect. WonderValley, Meta, Beacon AI, Crusoe, e-Struxture, Data District are all investing billions in data centres in Alberta according to the government's own Major Projects listing. I'll share the link once it's up on the CBC website. #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #fascistpancakes

Open quoted post

JEmphatically: "Today's Alberta @ Noon on the CBC was a call-in s…" - Mastodon Canada

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@TrueNorthSpice@mastodon.world Thank you for the supportive words ❤️. I'm about to go out for a ride on my bike to clear my head. And have lately been watching low-budget horror films, which weirdly, help take my mind off things that I'm reporting on. 😆

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Only about half of the data centre decision-makers surveyed said they were holding public forums or investing in local initiatives, while recent national polling shows that only 33% of developers are addressing grid reliability, and only 29% are responding to water consumption concerns. The report authors suggest “a disconnect between engagement efforts and community priorities.” You’d think data centre developers would pay attention to communities…but, no. I guess at least $64 billion, 18 state bills and 86 local moratoriums proposed across the U.S. isn’t enough to convince them? #ableg #cdnpoli #emissions #electricitygrid #AIdatacentres #AIDataCenters #WonderValleyAlberta #wondervalleyUtah #stratos https://open.substack.com/pub/jodymacpherson/p/community-pushback-blocks-64b-in

open.substack.com

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

Concerns from council members about the Disclosure Bylaw include: 🤔 Security of their personal information 🤔 Too bureaucratic, administrative work 🤔 Councillors should volunteer it instead 🤔 Too few people, unnecessary That last one was the idea that there are only 10,000 people in the whole MD (which is huge, landwise) and that everyone knows each other anyway.

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

One of my articles for The Energy Mix makes a cameo appearance in this excellent video by the Breach! https://youtu.be/kp_R1vja1bg?si=Gg6FhucXFhsuTJY4

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@dyckron@cosocial.ca I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

Smith wants CLOSER ties with the US. She's admitting it here. Also, if you listen through to the end, she's asked about her campaign to have Alberta remain in Canada and how she's promoting it leading up to the referendum. Watch her squirm as she admits the campaign is not really happening. Some advertising, a website, but she's not getting out on the road to campaign to remain in Canada.🤷

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2w ago

New Wonder Valley story coming out later this evening. Just finished editing and waiting for production! Listening to MD of Greenview council meeting turns up the darnedest things sometimes.

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

ICYMI: Trump is a human wrecking ball but even his damage pales in comparison to this… “The report paints a devastating picture of severe food shortages, price rises, migration, political destabilisation and possible war, resulting from the collapse of ecosystems, fuelled by the human-induced climate crisis and over-exploitation. Food shortages could result within five years.” https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jul/08/uk-report-ecosystem-collapse-national-threat-food-security #cdnpoli #climate #foodsecurity #environment #nationalsecurity #UK

theguardian.com

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@Westcoastmaven@mastodon.social So true. Even getting my mom into the registry office (so small we had to leave her walker outside) was extremely difficult. The first time we went, we had to leave because the line-up was super long and there was nowhere for her to sit. She's in a small town where there are limited options for registry services. It will take at least three trips to get this ID card that she needs for access to her healthcare information online!

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@datum@zeroes.ca thanks!

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@McRocker@thecanadian.social @mcspocky@mstdn.party Data centre developers from hell.👹

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

I'm looking for people who attend the session to be interviewed afterwards. Please pass this along and get in touch with me here or on Signal @ JodyMacPherson.64 or via email at jlmacpherson363@gmail.com

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

A guy in Florida posts on Threads about the decline in visits to Disney World wondering why...he's inundated with Canadians (and others around the world) commenting about boycotting the state and the U.S. He ignores every one of those replies and likes only the ones that suggest it has to do with weather or prices or anything but Trump, ICE or MAGA. This captures the mindset of some Americans, I guess. They don't want to accept that perceptions of the country have fallen so low with the rest of the world. Tragic. Wilful ignorance.

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

This explains the fascist pancakes reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/AlbertaNow/comments/1uy9hcl/heroes_live_amongst_us_and_they_are_carla_and/

Heroes live amongst us, and they are Carla and Mikayla

symbionica

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

I send him home high on marshmallows, totally hyped up from over-the-top wild ghost stories that we made up (each trying to outdo the other), and I don't have to try and get him to sleep at the end of the day - haha. Who knew grandparenting could be so damn fun?! It's messing with my Soundcloud algorithm though. I'm getting some weird recommended playlists, now... ⛈️

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@pinhman@humanwords.party That's an awesome video. Thanks for sharing it!

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JEmphatically @JEmphatically@mstdn.ca

· 2mo ago

Priorities... #ableg #Alberta #healthcare #fossilfuels (from the Everything GP newsletter)

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