The Ontario government says a multi-billion-dollar investment by Microsoft will expand cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure across the province, supporting more than 1,200 jobs and strengthening Ontario’s position in the digital economy.
The investment is part of Microsoft’s previously announced $19-billion commitment to Canada and will scale up computing capacity in Ontario through expanded data centre operations.
The province says the projects are expected to support about 1,000 jobs during construction and create 250 permanent, good-paying positions once operational.
“Strong data infrastructure has long underpinned the success of our provincial economy, supporting growth in the tech, health care and financial sectors,” said Vic Fedeli, minister of economic development, job creation and trade. “As demand for AI, cloud computing and data processing continues to grow, Microsoft’s investment will ensure companies looking to invest in the province have the infrastructure they need to stay competitive and meet the moment.”
Microsoft’s Azure Canada Central data centre region has supported industries and institutions across Ontario for the past decade, including sectors such as finance, health care and quantum computing. The expansion is expected to enhance reliability and domestic data capacity as more organizations adopt AI technologies.
“Cloud and AI infrastructure brings enormous opportunity and we believe everyone should share in the benefits,” said Matt Milton, president of Microsoft Canada. “We’re proud to invest in Ontario’s future with a Community-First approach helping ensure the benefits of AI are realized across the province, creating jobs and supporting long-term growth.”
The province says the expansion aligns with its broader strategy to grow the data centre sector while ensuring access to clean, reliable and affordable energy. Officials point to Ontario’s integrated energy plan and recent legislation aimed at prioritizing projects that support economic growth and domestic data storage.
Since 2018, Ontario has attracted more than $222 billion in investment and created one million jobs, according to the province, while efforts to reduce red tape have saved businesses an estimated $12 billion annually.
“Ontario is attracting the right data centers to the province that maximize economic value, with Microsoft accepting full cost recovery on any required infrastructure upgrade. This job creating project fulfills an important government priority — Canadian data will be stored and processed on Canadian soil. To keep our economy strong and energy reliable, Ontario is doubling down on Made-In-Canada nuclear power to create 150,000 good-paying jobs and meet rising electricity demand,” said Stephen Lecce, minister of energy and mines.
“As data becomes increasingly valuable, protecting where it is stored and controlled is essential. Investments like this support our Protect Ontario approach by ensuring critical digital infrastructure is built here, strengthening security and supporting Ontario workers,” added Stephen Crawford, minister of public and business service delivery and procurement.
