Canada Promotes Investment In Sovereign, Large‑scale AI Data Centres Through A New MOU‑based Proposal Process

On January 15, 2026, the federal government announced a call for proposals to help develop sovereign, large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) data centres exceeding 100 megawatts (MW). Proponents that submit project proposals may be considered for entry into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Canada to explore mechanisms for government-supported project development. The announcement provides limited details as to how an MOU would translate into project support, suggesting the government may be open to a variety of projects and structures. Potential investors should carefully assess the proposal process and evaluation criteria but should also note the aggressive timeline, as the deadline for submissions is February 15.