Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford emphasized the importance of embracing data centres to maintain Canadian control over information. Speaking at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa, Ford highlighted that data centres offer economic opportunities and stated that the Ontario government will only approve projects that contribute to the economy.

Ford stressed the significance of securing Canadians’ data within Canada to prevent it from potentially being accessed by U.S. President Trump. He emphasized the need for data sovereignty to avoid dependence on external entities such as Trump, who could sever access abruptly.

The Ontario government recently introduced its Data Centre Playbook, outlining criteria for data centre approvals based on economic development, data protection, digital sovereignty, and community investment. Ford mentioned that data centres will be required to cover their electricity costs without receiving financial incentives to attract investments.

Ford reiterated the province’s commitment to advancing projects that adhere to environmental standards, benefit local infrastructure, and prioritize Canadian data control. He highlighted the potential for significant tax revenue generation while safeguarding sensitive information from potential external threats, emphasizing the importance of protecting data sovereignty.

Ford’s statements followed recent decisions by Mississauga and Oakville to implement one-year moratoriums on data centres, while Toronto City Council approved a motion seeking a framework to address community concerns related to data centres. The provincial government is currently seeking public input on its playbook through the Environmental Registry of Ontario and the Ontario Regulatory Registry.

Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner has called for a pause on approving new data centres until further studies are conducted on their environmental impact, energy consumption, health effects, and job creation. Schreiner raised concerns about the lack of community consultation in the approval process and questioned the beneficiaries of the expanding AI data centre infrastructure across the province.