A proposed provincial assessment framework, a proposed new electricity rate class, and municipalities already responding in different ways. Understand where your project stands while Ontario's framework is still open for comment.
The draft Playbook was released alongside a 30-day public comment period. Here is what developers, operators, investors and projects in Ontario's development pipeline need to know.
Amendments to Ontario's Electricity Act now give the province authority to establish requirements for certain large loads before they connect or reconnect to the grid. Ontario is proposing regulations that would require new large data centres to obtain government approval before connecting.
The draft framework proposes assessing projects against three pillars: economic development, data security & digital sovereignty, and community investment & public trust. A weak showing could put approval at risk.
Ontario is considering a separate rate class for new large data centres, potentially above a 1 MW threshold, together with exclusion from the Industrial Conservation Initiative (ICI).
Oakville has enacted a local pause on new data centre approvals. Mississauga's council has directed staff to prepare one, with a final vote expected September 16. Hamilton's council rejected a proposed moratorium 10–6 on July 15. The municipal picture is mixed — and moving independently of the provincial process.
Ontario is proposing to use these three pillars to help inform government decisions on new large data centre connections, alongside electricity system reliability, technical feasibility and cost responsibility.
Jobs created, capital invested, and the broader economic case your project makes for the province and host municipality.
Where data resides, who can access it, and how the project supports Canadian control over critical digital infrastructure.
How the project engages the host community, and whether local and public confidence has been earned — not assumed.
The draft Playbook is open for comment until September 12, 2026. This is the period when developers, operators and other affected stakeholders can formally put their concerns and recommendations before government while the framework is still being developed.
A confidential preliminary review of your project's alignment with Ontario's proposed framework.
Tell us about your project. Every request is reviewed directly by a senior IGS government relations advisor, who will follow up within one business day.
A comprehensive, project-specific assessment using IGS's proprietary 100-point methodology — evidence review, political and community risk analysis, stakeholder mapping, and a 90-day action plan.
Municipal and provincial GR strategy for projects facing local moratoriums, council review, or a stalled provincial approval.
We draft and submit formal comments to the ERO consultation on your behalf — before the September 12 deadline.
As the draft Playbook is finalized, we track changes that affect your project and flag what needs a response.
We work across the Ontario–Michigan corridor on complex files where government policy, major investment, infrastructure and local politics collide. Our Data Centres & Digital Infrastructure practice applies that experience to Ontario's rapidly changing data centre environment — and we move at the speed a 30-day comment window demands.
Yes. There is no cost or obligation to request it. It's a preliminary review — if it surfaces issues that call for deeper work, we may recommend our paid Data Centre Playbook Readiness Assessment or ongoing GR support, but that's always a separate, opt-in step.
Yes. Every inquiry is reviewed only by a senior advisor and is never shared with third parties.
No — early-stage projects benefit the most, since there is still time to shape site selection, community engagement, and your ERO submission before the rules are final.
A senior advisor reviews your project and responds within one business day with an initial read and, if useful, recommended next steps.