Saskatchewan Prioritizes Canadian Ownership and Sovereignty in New Data Centre Framework

CANADA, August 27 - Released on August 27, 2026

Today, the Government of Saskatchewan released its Data Centre Framework to help guide future investment opportunities, support economic growth and ensure Saskatchewan remains a competitive destination for private sector investment and development.

Following feedback from business, labour, industry, Indigenous partners and the public, Saskatchewan's Data Centre Framework provides clear principles for any future projects, clarity for municipalities and the public, and ensures any new project delivers meaningful benefits to Saskatchewan residents and businesses.

“The reality is that AI is here, and it will play a significant role in our lives and our economy,” Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “The real question is where the infrastructure that powers AI will be built and whose laws will govern it. We can build that infrastructure here in Canada, create Canadian jobs, attract billions of dollars in investment and ensure Canadian data is protected by Canadian laws and regulations. The alternative is to see that infrastructure, investment and opportunity built in jurisdictions like the United States or outside North America. Our government chooses Canada.”

Six key principles will guide the assessment of future data centre projects. These principles focus on Canadian ownership, support for Canadian data and AI sovereignty, the creation of Saskatchewan jobs and partnerships, industry experience, self-supplied power generation, and a centralized provincial intake process.

A key element of the framework is the requirement for any new proponents to supply their own power. While Saskatchewan has reliable, affordable baseload power, this approach provides consistency for new developments while ensuring any new projects do not place additional pressure on Saskatchewan's electricity system or displace any interprovincial export capacity.

“Companies continue to choose Saskatchewan to build and invest because they see a province that is committed to sustainable, responsible growth,” Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding said. “As interest in data centre development grows, today’s framework provides investors clarity, while ensuring projects are managed responsibly to bring benefits to the province and our people, including the creation of new jobs and investment into our communities.”

"As Saskatchewan explores the opportunities presented by data centres, development must be guided by a consistent and transparent framework,” SUMA President Randy Goulden said.“SUMA welcomes the release of Saskatchewan's Data Centre Framework and looks forward to working with the provincial government to ensure municipal perspectives are reflected in its implementation. Municipalities are on the front lines of future data centre development and must have a seat at the table to help shape decisions and ensure local communities share in the benefits." 

“The Data Centre Framework released today by the province provides consistency and clarity for future data centre development while respecting local decision-making,” SARM President Bill Huber said. “Rural municipalities will continue to exercise their established planning and development authorities, ensuring local priorities and community interests remain central to every proposal.”

“Saskatchewan's business community recognizes data centre development as a significant economic opportunity for the province,” Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Prabha Ramaswamysaid. “A framework with clear principles provides a transparent process by which we can determine how data centres are established and managed. This clarity allows us to pursue growth responsibly while ensuring our infrastructure and sovereignty are protected. When investors understand the standards and decisions are made consistently, both businesses and communities benefit.”

Earlier this year, Bell Canada announced an historic investment in Saskatchewan. A 300-megawatt data centre in the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, that will generate up to $12 billion in economic value. During this announcement, Bell Canada was joined by George Gordon First Nation Chief Shawn Longman and signed an agreement focused on Indigenous participation and workforce development.

The Government of Saskatchewan considers Indigenous participation as key to the development of future data centre projects. Indigenous partnerships, participation or equity is encouraged in future projects.

The framework will also create a streamlined and coordinated process for evaluating proposals, providing clarity for investors and help the Government of Saskatchewan to assess projects consistently and efficiently.

Project developers will be responsible for determining whether their proposed development requires an Environmental Impact Assessment and, where necessary, completing all applicable environmental review requirements. This ensures potential environmental impacts are identified and addressed in accordance with provincial and federal legislation. Technological advances have allowed for innovation environmental solutions including in the data centre currently under development in Saskatchewan, whereby a closed loop system for cooling eliminates the need to draw from regional water supplies.

By focusing on Canadian-owned and headquartered businesses, protecting Canadian data sovereignty, maintaining affordable and reliable utility services for existing customers, and overall economic benefits to the province.

Quick Facts:

• SaskTel currently owns and operates 6 data centres for cloud storage.
• Bell Canada’s 300MW project for compute capacity is under construction in RM of Sherwood, providing an estimated $720 millionin provincial revenues to be reinvested into programs, services or infrastructure along with more than 1,600 jobs and $12 billion in economic activity.
• Saskatchewan currently has over 30 applications for data centre developments in the queue, which are being evaluated based on the new framework.

For more information, contact:

Media Relations
Crown Investments Corporation
Regina
Email: [email protected]