AI data company considers expansion into Waterloo Region, has ‘no interest’ in using farmland
Posted Aug 7, 2025 07:54:30 AM.
Last Updated Aug 11, 2025 06:27:38 AM.
A company developing future-ready AI data centres could turn to Waterloo Region for significant investment.
The Quebec-based company QScale is reportedly planning a $4 billion investment as it plans to expand its operations into Ontario, preferring a location close to the Greater Toronto Area.
QScale’s CEO and Co-Founder, Martin Bouchard, has confirmed to 570 NewsRadio that Waterloo Region has been identified as a potential site for expansion.
“QScale can confirm that the Region of Waterloo / Wilmot Township has been shortlisted as one of the potential locations for our Ontario expansion,” said Bouchard in an email to 570 NewsRadio. “We are currently evaluating several sites across the province and will share further details once our assessment is complete.”
In a post on X, Bouchard clarified that his company has “no interest” in using agricultural land for the project.
“This claim is pure fake news,” said Bouchard in a post on X. “The only farmland we would consider is to build greenhouses that benefit from the free heat we produce – turning waste energy into local food production. Facts matter.”
Tony LaMantia, president & CEO of the Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation, also took to X to clarify reports that QScale was targeting farmland for their expansion into Waterloo Region, calling reports to that effect “nonsensical.”
“The QScale DC opportunity is not connected to the 770-acre megasite being assembled by the region in any way,” said LaMantia on X.
“It’s freaking out some local residents. The two are not connected.”
The Region of Waterloo is currently in the process of assembling land in Wilmot Township in order to attract significant investment.
In May, the region announced that it had purchased over 70 per cent of the total 770 acres included in the Wilmot land assembly.
QScale data centres are powered by renewable energy and, according to the company, its buildings “maximize efficiency to reduce AI’s operational footprint.”
Founded in 2018, QScale is based out of Lévis, Quebec. The operations are focused on building infrastructure to power artificial intelligence training, inference, and high-performance computing.
While the company may have big ambitions, the work they do doesn’t directly employ many people. On LinkedIn, the company has 35 associated members, the majority of whom are based in Quebec.
