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Saskatchewan prioritizes Canadian firms for new AI data centers
🇨🇦 Canada /Technology

Saskatchewan prioritizes Canadian firms for new AI data centers

From Global News · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Saskatchewan has released a framework prioritizing Canadian companies for constructing new AI data centers within the province.
  • The strategy aims to secure data sovereignty and ensure utility reliability by favoring Canadian businesses subject to national regulations.
  • New data centers must generate their own power and will not be permitted to use SaskPower utilities, with experienced operators being the only eligible applicants.

The Saskatchewan government is implementing a new framework designed to prioritize Canadian companies in the development of artificial intelligence data centers, signaling a commitment to data sovereignty and national security. Minister of Crown Investments Corporation Jeremy Harrison announced the strategy, emphasizing that AI and data sovereignty will become as critical as energy security in the future.

AI and data sovereignty is going to be as important as energy security as we move into the future.

— Jeremy HarrisonMinister of Crown Investments Corporation, explaining the strategic importance of the new framework.

This initiative aims to ensure that data generated within Saskatchewan remains under Canadian jurisdiction. By favoring companies headquartered in Canada, the province seeks to guarantee that these operations are subject to Canadian laws and regulations. The framework also promotes partnerships with Saskatchewan-based businesses and the utilization of local labor, further strengthening the provincial economy.

A key component of the new guidelines is the requirement for all new data centers to produce their own power, prohibiting them from drawing from SaskPower utilities. This measure enhances energy independence and reliability for these critical facilities. The province has also established a centralized intake process, ensuring that only experienced operators can apply to build and manage these advanced technological hubs.

If (data centre construction) is not going to be here, it’s going to be somewhere else. And it’s likely going to be in the United States, or it could be in other countries around the world. We’re choosing Canada.

— Jeremy HarrisonHighlighting the province's decision to prioritize domestic development.

Harrison highlighted the province's choice to "choose Canada" over potential development in the United States or other countries, underscoring the strategic importance of keeping this technology infrastructure within national borders. The framework, developed with input from industry stakeholders and Indigenous partners, provides clear principles for municipalities and residents regarding future data center projects. The Bell Canada AI data center construction site near Regina serves as an example, with the company committed to using Canadian steel and collaborating with local trade unions.

Everything we do looks to help Saskatchewan companies.

— John WatsonGroup president at Bell Canada Enterprises, emphasizing the company's commitment to local partnerships.
About this summary

Originally published by Global News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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