주요 AI 기업들이 캐나다에서 자국 데이터센터 투자가 실질적인 경제적 및 지역사회 혜택을 창출할 것을 약속하는 연방 서약에 서명했다.
MARKHAM, Ont. — Many of the world’s largest builders and buyers of artificial intelligence compute have pledged that their new Canadian data centres will generate upside for local communities rather than drive up costs, under a voluntary accord led by the federal government.
The participating firms have committed that any data centres they develop or patronize in Canada will serve a strategic national purpose and “create lasting local benefits.” They also agreed to ensure new AI infrastructure does not raise electricity prices for residents, minimize water usage, and increase transparency regarding the local impacts of their projects.
The federal government has published a set of high-level principles for new data-centre development in Canada, emphasizing long-term community benefits, protection of consumers from electricity price hikes, and mitigation of environmental impacts. Ottawa’s voluntary framework, known as Canada’s Responsible Data Centre Development Principles, has drawn 23 initial signatories. These include leading AI developers OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta; cloud giants Amazon, Google, and Microsoft; and major Canadian players such as Cohere, Bell, and Telus. Additional participants include domestically headquartered operators Beacon, eStruxture, Hypertec, QScale, and Telus, alongside international competitors Equinix and Prologis. Several neocloud providers also signed on, including Buzz HPC, Denvr, OVHcloud, and ThinkOn.
Surging demand for compute to train and run AI models has prompted a rush of new infrastructure projects across Canada, though several major developments have sparked significant local opposition. AI Minister Evan Solomon announced the accord in Markham on Thursday, stating that the federal government is encouraging developers to “build right” and ensure local communities benefit while resource concerns are addressed. According to Solomon, potential upsides include job creation, skills training, procurement from local supply chains, and increased resilience in the country’s digital capabilities. Mitigation measures could involve reusing waste heat, funding grid upgrades, and implementing closed-loop cooling systems.
Ottawa aims to attract further AI infrastructure investment and expand the nation’s compute capacity to boost AI adoption and innovation. However, Solomon acknowledged public concerns regarding water consumption, thermal output, potential electricity rate increases, and the extent to which such projects generate local economic benefits. “A community should not watch a major facility rise next door and receive nothing lasting in return,” he said.
The responsible development principles do not include compliance mechanisms or penalties for broken pledges. Since most issues addressed by the framework fall under provincial or municipal jurisdiction, enforcement will rely on those levels of government through regulatory approvals or direct agreements with operators. The federal framework is designed to equip local policymakers with the necessary data, as participants have committed to disclosing “reliable and verifiable information” about their projects.
The accord was developed over several months of consultations with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, individual municipal, provincial, and territorial governments, Indigenous groups, and industry stakeholders. “It provides a baseline of what you need to do if you want to come into our communities and you want to develop a data centre in Canada,” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti.
Most of the firms that signed the framework have already announced or signaled major plans to develop or utilize AI infrastructure in Canada. In June, Cohere signed an agreement to purchase compute from Buzz, which will operate Hypertec hardware within a Bell data centre in Merritt, B.C. The Toronto-based enterprise AI firm is also the anchor tenant of a CoreWeave data centre in Cambridge, Ont., supported by $240 million in federal funding.
The creators of Claude and ChatGPT are also actively seeking AI infrastructure in Canada. As previously reported, Anthropic plans to bring “gigawatts of compute online” in the country and is considering sites in Alberta. Chief rival OpenAI stated last October that it could lease or develop AI infrastructure in Canada as part of its efforts to participate in Ottawa’s sovereign technology initiative.
Hyperscalers Amazon, Google, and Microsoft each currently operate two large data-centre clusters and have pledged substantial spending on expansions. Meanwhile, Meta has commissioned a $13-billion data-centre complex near Edmonton. Domestic operators Beacon, eStruxture, and QScale have each highlighted multi-billion-dollar development plans. Telecom giants Bell and Telus are also pursuing opportunities, notably bidding for Ottawa’s sovereign AI business. Calgary-based cloud provider Denvr and French operator OVHcloud are similarly expanding Canadian compute capacity to deliver AI services to enterprises.
Ottawa has pledged to leverage its funding programs and internal compute demand to incentivize the growth of sovereign AI infrastructure, setting stringent requirements for backed projects. The Liberal government’s AI strategy, unveiled in June, promised to “link new data-centre development with clean energy expansion, robust environmental standards and tangible benefits for local communities.” In January, the federal Innovation Department sought proposals from firms planning facilities exceeding 100 megawatts. Applicants were required to demonstrate how they would generate local economic or ecosystem benefits, facilitate Indigenous participation, manage energy consumption, and mitigate noise and environmental impacts. To date, Ottawa has only approved Telus under the program, though a final agreement has yet to be announced.
Canada’s data-centre boom has not been universally welcomed. Environmental and civic groups have raised concerns over water usage and noise pollution, pointing to reports that similar facilities have increased consumer electricity bills in the United States. Industry builders and operators have countered that they utilize liquid-light cooling systems, recycle hardware-generated heat, and either commission dedicated natural gas power or leverage available renewable energy sources.
Projects nationwide have faced repeated protests and opposition at local and provincial town halls. Municipalities ranging from Mississauga to Rocky View County, Alta., have imposed temporary moratoriums on new compute facilities. Provincial governments in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec are attempting to manage or monetize data-centre development by rationing sector power allocations, imposing higher rates, or proposing new project levies.