Connect | New York // DCD>Debate: AI Sovereignty at the border: Who really controls Canadian compute?

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  • —
  • Management & Operations

Speakers

Todd Coleman

Todd Coleman

President & CEO, Estruxture

Matt Welch

Head of Conference Production, Data Center Nation

Emma Reese

Research Analyst, Canada and Northwest U.S, DC Byte

James Beer

James Beer

CEO, Qu Data Centres

Kathleen Kauth

Kathleen Kauth

COO, Mantle Climate & Founding Member of iMasons Canada

Canada is emerging as a critical hub for AI and hyperscale computing, but as US-based operators expand north, questions around data sovereignty, compliance, and cross-border workloads are becoming increasingly complex.

This debate explores who will ultimately shape Canada’s data center market, and how operators can navigate cross-border complexity, align compliance with strategy, and ensure Canada claims can claim a spot as a true global data center leader.

This debate will address:

  • How operators can ensure AI workloads comply with Canadian privacy and security laws while leveraging Canada’s energy and fiber infrastructure.
  • The practical challenges of storing, processing, and transmitting AI data in Canada
  • How cross-border collaboration with US data centers and networks affects market strategy and sovereignty
  • The trade-offs between compliance, competitiveness, and building a long-term Canadian data center powerhouse