Ontario data-centre approvals
As of
| Jurisdiction | What council did | When |
|---|---|---|
| Oakville | Interim Control By-law 2026-129: one-year pause on data centres; no applications were on file. Planning study ordered (noise, vibration, emissions, compatibility, energy supply, water, utilities). | Aug 11, 2026 |
| Mississauga | Interim control by-law: one-year pause on facilities of 10 MW and over, extendable to two; one application on file (Tenth Line West). Interim staff report to council in fall 2026 on study scope and consultation. | Sept 16, 2026 |
| Sault Ste. Marie | Approvals of large data centres frozen until a municipal framework is in place, expected early 2027; a 400 MW proposal in early planning. | Sept 2026 |
| Hamilton | Committee of Adjustment refused a conforming 76-hectare severance for the Steelport data-centre campus after staff recommended approval; 1,600-plus letters. Council advanced a pause June 24, then defeated it July 15. Applicant’s appeal before the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT-26-000693). | June 4, 2026 |
| Toronto | Staff directed to develop a Toronto approach to AI data centres (item MM39.47). On July 30, 2026 council adopted MM43.75, 25–0: all AI data-centre approvals aligned to that review, the local councillor notified of every application, a staff report to Planning and Housing in the first half of 2027, and a noise peer review ordered on the 3650 Danforth Avenue site-plan file. | July 30, 2026 |
| Ottawa | Staff directed to develop an assessment framework and possible policy amendments; council to be told of large-scale proposals so it can consider case-by-case moratoria. | Aug 2026 |
| Milton | A proposed one-year pause was defeated; council directed staff to study data centres instead. | Sept 14, 2026 |
| Burlington | A temporary moratorium was defeated; staff directed to review the town’s data-centre rules. | July 2026 |
| Waterloo Region | Staff directed to report to council in early 2027 on the implications of data-centre development. | Aug 2026 |
| Province and federal | ||
| Province of Ontario | Draft Data Centre Playbook released for comment: a system-impact assessment and a strategic-priority assessment, with ‘invest in communities and earn public confidence’ among the pillars. Comment period closed September 12, 2026. The final version is to accompany the province’s AI Industrial Strategy, which the backgrounder says is due this fall; no separate date is given. | Aug 13, 2026 |
| Government of Canada | Responsible Data Centre Development Principles launched with 23 signatories; 19 more added September 22, 2026, for 42. The release contains no numeric target, monitoring or enforcement mechanism. | Sept 3, 2026 |
Sources
- Oakville
-
- CP24, “Oakville enacts data centre pause as Ontario municipalities wrestle with AI buildout”, August 12, 2026
- Mississauga
-
- Connect CRE, “Mississauga puts temporary freeze on new data centres”
- Global News, “Province at odds with municipalities over AI data centres”, September 25, 2026
- Sault Ste. Marie
-
- CP24, “Here’s how some Ontario municipalities are grappling with new AI data centres”, September 16, 2026
- Global News, “Province at odds with municipalities over AI data centres”, September 25, 2026
- Hamilton
-
- The Public Record, “Ontario Land Tribunal now processing Hamilton Steelport data centre appeal”, OLT-26-000693, July 28, 2026
- CP24, “Here’s how some Ontario municipalities are grappling with new AI data centres”, September 16, 2026
- Toronto
-
- City of Toronto, “Ensuring Due Diligence on Data Centres in Scarborough Southwest”, item 2026.MM43.75, July 29 and 30, 2026
- City of Toronto, “Maintaining Toronto’s Climate and Energy Priorities Through the Review Process for Artificial Intelligence Data Centre Proposals”, item 2026.MM39.47, March 25 and 26, 2026
- Ottawa
-
- CP24, “Here’s how some Ontario municipalities are grappling with new AI data centres”, September 16, 2026
- Milton
-
- CP24, “Here’s how some Ontario municipalities are grappling with new AI data centres”, September 16, 2026
- Burlington
-
- CP24, “Here’s how some Ontario municipalities are grappling with new AI data centres”, September 16, 2026
- Waterloo Region
-
- CP24, “Here’s how some Ontario municipalities are grappling with new AI data centres”, September 16, 2026
Province and federal
- Province of Ontario
-
- Government of Ontario, “Data Centre Playbook”, media backgrounder, August 13, 2026
- Environmental Registry of Ontario, “Economic and Strategic Assessment Framework for New Data Centres”, notice 026-0853, August 13, 2026
- Government of Canada
-
- ISED, “Government of Canada launches Canada’s Responsible Data Centre Development Principles”, September 3, 2026
- ISED, “Government of Canada welcomes 19 additional signatories to Canada’s Responsible Data Centre Development Principles”, September 22, 2026
Changelog
- 2026-10-30 — Site published.
- 2026-10-30 — Initial publication: nine municipalities, Province of Ontario, Government of Canada. Sources as listed under the table.