Quebec AI data centre company shortlists Waterloo region as part of expansion plans into Ontario

Quebec AI data centre company QScale says it has shortlisted Waterloo region for a future site as they expand operations into Ontario.

QScale CEO Martin Bouchard said in an email to CBC News that they're looking at Wilmot Township as a possible location.

"We are currently evaluating several sites across the province and will share further details once our assessment is complete," Bouchard said.

Bouchard added data centres "are essential to driving Canadian innovation and ensuring sovereign AI capabilities."

He did not say if there was a timeline for a decision on their Ontario expansion and how many jobs a potential data centre site would add to the local economy. He also did not say what other communities it is considering in the province.

QScale, based in Lévis, Que., says on its website that it "develops environmentally responsible computing centers specifically designed for high-performance computing, supercomputing and machine learning."

The company's main campus in the Quebec City area is approximately 86,400 square meters, or the size of approximately 16 football fields.

It has 142 megawatts power capacity and uses 100 per cent renewable energy, the company's website says.

CBC News has reached out to local officials for comment on the news.

An emailed statement from the Region of Waterloo did not address QScale specifically, but instead the region said the land in Wilmot Township that it is looking to assemble will be "for future investment from a major employer."

In May, the Region of Waterloo said it has secured 70 per cent of the land it wants in Wilmot Township as part of its plans to create an industrial site for future use. The region has been in talks with 12 landowners to purchase their land to assemble a 312 hectare site near the intersection of Nafziger Road and Bleams Road.

"This land assembly is not occurring for any business/end user in particular at this time. The objective of this project is to assemble one contiguous parcel of land as a step toward attracting a major employer for the future, and securing well-paying jobs and further economic prosperity," the region's statement on Thursday said.

"The region is continually in conversation with industry leaders and various levels of government about possible future investment. Our efforts now will put the region in a stronger position to attract a large investment in the future. Any future investment would be subject to further approvals before it could proceed."