Data centres in Ontario will need to cover all their energy costs and could pay more for electricity than other industrial users, the government said Thursday as it faces mounting pressure from local lawmakers to bring in guardrails around the facilities powering the artificial intelligence boom. Premier Doug Ford lauded data centres as the “way of the future” at a press conference in Guelph, but ruled out using financial incentives to lure new projects to Ontario. “It’s going to drive the world economy, there’s trillions of dollars around the world being invested,” Ford said while outlining the province’s “playbook” to guide future data centre approvals. “But if any data centre thinks they’re coming into Ontario and getting a freebie: not happening.” #ctv #ctvnews #ctvnewskitchener @alexandraholykctv