Yesterday morning, minister of digital asbestos, Evan Solomon, was in Markham to announce that the government had created a new framework of “key expectations” for building data centres in Canada, and that 23 major digital asbestos companies had signed on. It all sounds good, until you realise that this is a voluntary code of conduct made with bad faith actors, and that the federal government has pretty much no levers to enforce any of these promises that these companies make, because so much of the regulation is either a provincial or municipal responsibility. So what you have instead is Solomon once again putting on a performance for the cheap seats at the community theatre, and is expecting applause and bouquets for said performance. It’s like we’re back in the Trudeau era of “the announcement is the policy.” This is not serious governance, and governance is the cornerstone of digital sovereignty—that thing that Solomon keeps claiming to care about.
Non-binding 'expectations'? Solomon & Carney are not serious about governing data centres in Canada; they're offside w/ the large & growing anti-data centre public sentiment. These companies won't comply w/ voluntary 'rules.' They have lied about energy & water use. This is weak & shameful.
— Natasha Tusikov (@ntusikov.bsky.social) 2026-09-03T18:53:05.383Z
In technical terms, this is referred to as a "pinky swear." And it's just as binding and effective."The responsible development principles do not include any compliance mechanism or penalties for broken pledges."This is not serious governance.
— Blayne Haggart (@bhaggart.bsky.social) 2026-09-03T17:01:43.644Z
@ntusikov.bsky.social and I wrote this oped about social media regulation, but its main point stands here. Regulatory theory tells us that voluntary agreements don't work with bad actors. The companies listed above are some of the least trustworthy of the past several decades.This is just empty PR.
— Blayne Haggart (@bhaggart.bsky.social) 2026-09-03T17:01:43.645Z
Later in the day, prime minister Mark Carney announced via press release the launch of Digital Transformation Canada, which aims to “refine how the government develops, buys and uses technology.” While this could be a good thing, particularly if it means developing home-grown digital solutions that would get us off of American platforms, that was not really mentioned in the release at all. Instead, it was more about the CEO bullshit around digital asbestos, with “eliminating duplication” and “improve outcomes,” which just sounds like more hype that Carney has swallowed. We have real needs when it comes to our digital sovereignty, but if there is any consideration about how to do that, it doesn’t appear to be coming from this plan as outlined.
Programming Note: I am taking an extra-long weekend, so posts will resume later in the week. Enjoy!
Ukraine Dispatch:
A Russian attack hit a high-rise in Kyiv injuring ten, while a drone also hit a Coca-Cola plant outside of the city, which president Zelenskyy said was a “message” to America. President Trump says he wants Europe to repay the US for aid to Ukraine.
Noteworthy:
- The Bank of Canada unveiled the new vertical $20 banknote, which features King Charles on the front and the Vimy Ridge memorial on the back. (More here).
- Here is a look at the Conservatives’ shifting message about counter-tariffs.
- Catherine McKenna calls on the government go get serious about the connection between affordability and the energy transition.
- Jen Gerson makes the clear-eyed assertion that there is no salvaging the relationship with the US, and that we need to be clear about that and move on.
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