Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Thursday that data centres are "the way of the future," while also adding that the centres would need to cover all their energy costs and could pay more for electricity than other industrial users.
The province released a data centre framework as it faces pressure to bring in guardrails around the facilities powering the artificial intelligence boom. Ontario will also favour projects that use closed-loop cooling systems to minimize water use, and technology that reduces noise and captures waste heat to warm nearby buildings.
AI data centres have become more controversial in the past year, with some municipalities in Ontario implementing or considering temporary bans on new construction to allow time to study the impacts. Residents in some communities have raised concerns about energy use, water consumption, noise and the true economic benefits.
Oakville, Ont., introduced a one-year moratorium this month, while council in Mississauga will vote on one in September. Meanwhile, Hamilton council voted against a moratorium.
#datacentres #ontario #dougford #onpoli
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Thursday that data centres are "the way of the future," while also adding that the centres would need to cover all their energy costs and could pay more for electricity than other industrial users.
The province released a data centre framework as it faces pressure to bring in guardrails around the facilities powering the artificial intelligence boom. Ontario will also favour projects that use closed-loop cooling systems to minimize water use, and technology that reduces noise and captures waste heat to warm nearby buildings.
AI data centres have become more controversial in the past year, with some municipalities in Ontario implementing or considering temporary bans on new construction to allow time to study the impacts. Residents in some communities have raised concerns about energy use, water consumption, noise and the true economic benefits.
Oakville, Ont., introduced a one-year moratorium this month, while council in Mississauga will vote on one in September. Meanwhile, Hamilton council voted against a moratorium.
#datacentres #ontario #dougford #onpoli
Subscribe to The Globe and Mail's Morning Update to get stories directly in your inbox: theglobeandmail.com/newsletters/subscribe-morning-update
