On August 13, 2026, the Government of Ontario released the draft framework for its Data Centre Playbook (the “Playbook”), a policy tool that will inform the government’s decisions on which data centres may connect to Ontario’s electricity grid. The draft framework for the Playbook is open for a 30-day public comment period through the Environmental Registry of Ontario and the Ontario Regulatory Registry, and the final Playbook is expected to be released as part of the government’s broader Artificial Intelligence (AI) Industrial Strategy this fall.
This update summarizes the announcement and outlines key considerations for data centre project proponents, landowners and other market participants in the coming months.
