Data centres underpin artificial intelligence, cloud computing, research, and digital services. As demand for computing capacity grows, Ontario has an opportunity to attract projects that deliver lasting benefits for the province. The size of an investment alone, however, does not tell Ontario how many permanent jobs a project will create, how much it will spend with local suppliers, or how much computing capacity it will make available to Canadian businesses and researchers.
ICTC recommends that Ontario adopt an Economic and Strategic Value per Megawatt Score to assess new data centre proposals. The score would compare the economic, strategic, and social benefits each project would deliver for every megawatt of electrical capacity it requires. ICTC also recommends giving equal weight to Ontario’s three proposed assessment pillars.
Recommendations by assessment pillar.
- Advance economic development. Assess projects on permanent, high-quality jobs, domestic procurement, and affordable, reliable access to computing capacity for Ontario startups, small and medium-sized businesses, researchers, and public institutions. Proposals should show how they will support AI innovation, help bring research to market, and retain Canadian intellectual property.
Protect data security and digital sovereignty. Assess whether proposals demonstrate that highly sensitive and critical data will be stored, processed, and governed in Canada. Proposals should also explain how proponents will maintain secure domestic computing capacity for critical services, disclose who owns and controls the facility, and outline contingency plans for disruptions to supplies of semiconductors and other critical hardware.
- Invest in communities and earn public trust. Engage Indigenous communities early as rights holders and establish measurable commitments for local hiring, training, apprenticeships, and procurement. Proponents should report publicly on whether they meet those commitments, how much electricity and water their facilities use, and how they will protect grid reliability without shifting infrastructure costs onto communities or other users.
Read ICTC’s full submission to the Government of Ontario’s public consultation on new data centres
To cite this publication:
Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC). (2026, September 12). Responsibly Supporting Ontario’s Data Centre Sector: The Information & Communications Technology Council’s submission to the Government of Ontario’s public consultation on developing an economic and strategic assessment framework for new data centres.
