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Saskatchewan to Introduce Guidelines for Future Data Centres
The province says Canadian firms will get priority and new projects must generate their own power to protect data and keep utilities reliable.
On Thursday, Saskatchewan announced a new framework requiring all future data centres to be Canadian-owned and self-supplied with power, aiming to protect data sovereignty and ensure utility reliability.
Crown Investments Corporation Jeremy Harrison defended the measures as critical, emphasizing that domestic control over artificial intelligence infrastructure and data security are increasingly important for national interests.
Future operators must demonstrate experience and undergo a centralized provincial intake process, while the government prioritizes projects generating significant job creation and economic growth.
Bell Canada's data centre near Regina remains exempt from these rules because it draws power from the provincial grid, a decision Harrison defended as necessary for rapid development.
Saskatchewan officials argue keeping infrastructure Canadian prevents reliance on foreign alternatives like the United States, especially as other provinces grapple with data centre conflicts.