Ontario’s Draft Data Centre Playbook: Implications For Investors, Operators, And Developers

Digital infrastructure operators in Ontario are capitalizing on Canada’s growing reputation as a premier data centre jurisdiction. Demand for grid access in the province has increased substantially, with an interconnection queue potentially reaching 10,000 MW. In response, on August 13, 2026, the province released its draft Data Centre Playbook (the “Playbook”).

The Playbook operationalizes the provincial government’s final approval authority over grid connections for prescribed large-load facilities from the Protect Ontario by Securing Affordable Energy for Generations Act (Bill 40). Under the proposed framework, the traditional “first-come, first-served” interconnection model would give way to an assessment model that weighs both technical feasibility and alignment with provincial priorities on economic development, digital sovereignty, and community benefits.