Saskatchewan Prioritizes Canadian Ownership in AI Data Centre Framework

The province of Saskatchewan is taking steps to ensure that its artificial intelligence data centres are built and owned by Canadian companies. The government has released a Data Centre Framework that outlines six guiding principles for future projects, including Canadian ownership and data sovereignty.

According to Jeremy Harrison, the minister responsible for Crown utilities, 'the reality is that AI is here, and it will play a significant role in our lives and our economy.' He emphasized that if these facilities are not constructed domestically, the infrastructure and corresponding capital investment will move to the United States or other international jurisdictions.

The framework requires proponents to supply their own off-grid power generation, complete environmental assessments, and utilize sustainable technologies such as closed-loop water cooling systems. The province is currently reviewing over 30 applications under the framework, including a $1.7 billion AI data centre campus being built by Bell Canada in partnership with the George Gordon First Nation.

Despite commercial interest from foreign tech giants, provincial officials maintain that keeping infrastructure under domestic ownership remains non-negotiable. By enforcing strict Canadian ownership requirements while requiring proponents to bring their own power, Saskatchewan is positioning itself to capture massive AI investment on its own terms, ensuring local grid stability and domestic data security even as trade uncertainty across the southern border grows.