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

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  • —
  • Management & Operations

Speakers

Emma Reese

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

Matt Welch

Head of Conference Production, Data Center Nation

Todd Coleman

Todd Coleman

President & CEO, Estruxture

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