Canada: 229 data centres, 65 operators, 2,331 MW live

• 27 Aug 2026Opposition

  Alberta holds virtual town hall on AI data centre development

  Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and three ministers held a one-hour virtual town hall on August 27 to address resident concerns about AI data centre projects being built in the province. Over 12,500 people participated, raising questions about water use (particularly for Meta's $13 billion campus north of Edmonton), electricity costs, proximity to homes, and job availability for Albertans. The same day, the Opposition NDP called for a moratorium on AI data centre development until stricter rules and impact assessments are in place.

• 27 Aug 2026Regulation

  Saskatchewan mandates Canadian ownership and self-supplied power for new data centres

  Saskatchewan's government announced Thursday a new regulatory framework requiring all new data centres in the province to be Canadian-owned and to supply their own electricity, framed as ensuring data security and grid reliability. The announcement was made at the site of Bell Canada's $1.7-billion AI data centre outside Regina, which is under construction and exempt from the new rules as it draws power from the provincial grid. The province will establish a centralized intake system to approve projects, with applicants required to demonstrate experience and significant job creation.

• 26 Aug 2026Zoning decision

  Ottawa City Council directs staff to draft data centre policy framework

  Ottawa City Council unanimously passed a motion on August 26 directing city staff to develop a framework for assessing data centre applications based on size and environmental impact. The motion, introduced by Councillor Stéphanie Plante, also asks staff to alert council about hyperscale data centre applications (defined as facilities using at least 50 megawatts) so councillors can consider passing interim control bylaws. The framework aims to balance concerns about water and power consumption against potential tax revenue and data sovereignty benefits, with results expected to return to council in 2027 for approval.

• 25 Aug 2026Energized

  Kepler Communications brings space-based data centres online

  Toronto-based Kepler Communications announced it has activated the first commercial low-Earth orbit satellite constellation delivering real-time space-based computing to commercial and government customers. Each satellite in the network is equipped with optical terminals enabling laser links between space, air, and ground assets, allowing data to be processed directly in orbit rather than waiting for downlink to Earth. The system reduces latency, enables AI processing, and supports autonomous space operations. Kepler said it will expand the global optical relay network in 2028 with new spacecraft to support data rates up to 100 Gbps.

• 25 Aug 2026Zoning decision

  Vancouver council defeats data centre safeguards motion, passes tech hub strategy

  Vancouver City Council voted down a motion by OneCity Councillor Lucy Maloney on August 25, 2026, that would have imposed regulatory requirements on the Telus AI data centre in Mount Pleasant, including independent assessments of water usage, emissions, and community impacts before rezoning. The same day, the ABC-majority council passed Councillor Mike Klassen's motion to develop a physical tech and innovation hub, with Maloney and COPE Councillor Sean Orr opposed. The Mount Pleasant data centre rezoning hearing is scheduled after the October 17 municipal election.

• 19 Aug 2026Acquisition

  eStruxture-occupied data center in Toronto sold

  A landlord sold an eStruxture-occupied data center in Toronto, Canada.

• 19 Aug 2026Opposition

  Alberta holds first AI data centre town hall in Lacombe amid opposition

  The Alberta government held a town hall in Lacombe on August 19, 2026, to hear resident concerns about proposed AI data centres. Development has faced strong opposition over water use, pollution, and potential electricity bill impacts. Premier Danielle Smith countered that AI data centres will generate billions in royalties and taxes while using limited water and lowering transmission costs. Additional town halls are planned, including one in Sturgeon County north of Edmonton.

• 14 Aug 2026Utility program

  Alberta launches public consultation on data centre strategy as Meta Sturgeon County build advances

  Alberta announced a new public information website and scheduled town halls beginning August 19 to address concerns about data centre growth, power demand, water use and local impacts. The initiative responds to community opposition to Meta's $13 billion, one-gigawatt AI data centre under construction in Sturgeon County, 35 km north of Edmonton. Alberta's grid operator has capped initial data-centre load allocation at 1,200 megawatts against 19,565 megawatts of requests; Meta received 970 megawatts. The province forecasts $250 million annually in royalties and taxes from the Meta project but acknowledges local unease over resource use, infrastructure costs and consultation timing.

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