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Saskatchewan says new data centres must be Canadian and supply own power

  • Jeremy Simes

  • Canadian Press

  • August 27, 2026

Saskatchewan Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison speaks during a press conference about a wind energy project in Saskatchewan in Regina, Monday, June 24, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu

REGINA -- Saskatchewan's government says companies planning to build data centres in the province must be Canadian.

It also says proponents need to supply the centres with their own electricity.

The measures are part of a new framework that the province says ensures Canadian data is protected while keeping utility services reliable.

Jeremy Harrison, the province's Crown Investments Corporation minister, says Canada should be in control over data that's used and stored in the country.

He says that in the future security over artificial intelligence is going to be as important as energy security.

Harrison had made the announcement at the site of Bell Canada's AI data centre outside Regina, which is currently under construction.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 27, 2026.