Want to build a data centre in Canada? These are the federal government's new expectations
The Canadian federal government has introduced a new framework of five expectations for data center development to ensure responsible growth. Major tech companies, including Microsoft and Meta, have signed on to support these principles, which aim to guide local infrastructure projects.
Why it matters
As AI infrastructure expands, governments are seeking to balance rapid technological development with community trust and regulatory oversight.
"If we don't build the infrastructure of the future here, we will have to buy it from somewhere else. And if we don't innovate here, we will rent that from someone else," AI Minister Evan Solomon said at a news conference in Markham, Ont., on Thursday morning.
But Solomon said the federal government is aware that trust is vital for AI development, and the new principles will help people and companies "understand what responsible development looks like and what Canadians expect from projects that are seeking to build in their communities."
The framework sets out five expectations for data centre projects, saying they must:
According to the federal government, the principles are supported by a "broad cross-section of Canada's data centre, cloud, artificial intelligence and technology sectors."
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