A new Nanos Research poll shows two-thirds of Canadians reject government incentives for AI data centre construction
Most Canadians are skeptical of government financial support for artificial intelligence data centres, according to new polling that reveals a sharp disconnect between public sentiment and the billions being funnelled into AI infrastructure across the country.
The survey, commissioned by The Globe and Mail and conducted by Nanos Research between July 28 and 30, 2026, found that 64 per cent of Canadians oppose government subsidies for AI data centre construction with 38 per cent opposed outright and 26 per cent somewhat opposed.
Just 28 per cent expressed any level of support. The poll surveyed 1,104 Canadians aged 18 and older, with a margin of error of ±3.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
For financial advisors and wealth managers monitoring infrastructure-linked investments and ESG mandates, the findings offer a telling snapshot of where Canadian public opinion sits on AI's physical footprint and the political risk that may follow.
Resource protection trumps growth ambitions
When asked to weigh economic development against environmental stewardship, nearly half of Canadians said Canada should give equal priority to AI data centre investment and the protection of natural resources, such as water and electricity supply.
A further 40 per cent said resource protection should take precedence outright. Only nine per cent said data centre investment should be the primary focus.
The results suggest that while enthusiasm for AI as a technology remains broadly present, appetite for subsidising its physical infrastructure at public expense is considerably thinner. For advisors guiding clients through the growing universe of AI-linked equities and infrastructure funds, the survey is a useful reminder that social licence is an increasingly material risk factor in Canadian markets.
Regionally, resistance is sharpest on the Prairies, where nearly half of respondents said they outright oppose government subsidies, compared with the national average of 38 per cent. That level of opposition in a region already attuned to energy economics and resource stewardship may complicate future project approvals and the investment cases built around them.
Jobs top the list of perceived benefits but concerns run deep
Among those who do see upside in AI data centre development, job creation and local hiring were cited most often as a perceived benefit, at 22 per cent.
Canadian data sovereignty, the notion that housing data domestically reduces exposure to foreign access, was flagged by 8.2 per cent of respondents, while broader economic growth was cited by 8.1 per cent. Notably, 13 per cent of Canadians said they perceive no benefits from data centres at all.
On the concern side, electricity demand topped the list at 26 per cent, followed by environmental harm at 18 per cent and heavy water use at 16 per cent. Those anxieties map closely onto the ESG risk categories that institutional investors and their advisors are increasingly expected to assess and disclose.
The gender divide in responses is also noteworthy: men expressed greater optimism about the economic benefits of AI data centres and were more likely than women to prioritise data centre investment over resource protection.
What this means for investment strategy
The survey arrives as Canadian governments at both the federal and provincial levels have signalled interest in positioning the country as a global hub for AI infrastructure.
That ambition runs headlong into the public opposition documented in this poll, a tension that carries real implications for investors holding positions in data centre real estate investment trusts, utilities supplying AI facilities, or companies with large Canadian data centre footprints.
Wealth managers advising on infrastructure allocations will want to factor in the regulatory and reputational risks that flow from this kind of public sentiment. Projects dependent on government co-investment or approval processes face genuine headwinds where communities prioritise grid stability and environmental impact over digital infrastructure buildout.
As AI becomes embedded in portfolio construction, client communication, and compliance, the infrastructure that powers it and the political economy surrounding it becomes a relevant investment variable, not merely a technology story.
