Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford advocated for the establishment of data centres in the province to maintain Canadian data sovereignty. Speaking at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa, Ford highlighted the economic benefits of data centres and emphasized the need to secure Canadians’ data within Canada to prevent it from being potentially accessed by U.S. President Trump.
Ford underscored that allowing Trump to control Canadian data would be detrimental and emphasized the importance of maintaining data sovereignty. The Ontario government recently introduced its Data Centre Playbook, which focuses on economic development, data protection, digital sovereignty, and community investment.
In terms of incentives, Ford stated that data centres will be responsible for covering their electricity costs, with some potentially paying a premium. The government will not provide financial incentives for attracting investments but will leverage natural advantages such as clean energy, available land, favorable climate, and a skilled workforce.
Projects seeking approval must align with Ontario’s environmental standards, including water consumption and noise levels, and contribute to local infrastructure and communities. Ford stressed the opportunity to generate tax revenue while safeguarding sensitive information and preventing it from falling into the hands of President Trump.
Recent actions by municipalities like Mississauga and Oakville voting for moratoriums on data centres underscore the growing concerns about their impact. Toronto city council has also requested a framework to address community worries regarding data centres, including environmental effects and infrastructure considerations.
The Ontario Green Party, led by Mike Schreiner, has called for a pause on new data centre approvals to assess their environmental, health, and economic implications. Schreiner highlighted the lack of community consultation and safeguards in the current approval process and raised questions about who ultimately benefits from these developments.
Public consultation on the Ontario government’s Data Centre Playbook is ongoing through the Environmental Registry of Ontario and the Ontario Regulatory Registry until mid-September.