Overview
- Federal ministers, Ottawa’s mayor and Nokia executives held a Nov. 25 groundbreaking that moves the multi‑phase build from planning to construction.
- The Kanata North site will house labs for AI‑driven network automation, quantum‑safe infrastructure, data center networking and early 6G work.
- Nokia says the expansion will create more than 340 jobs and increase student co‑op positions, with reporting indicating the site could add nearly 400 roles.
- Ottawa’s $40 million comes via the Strategic Response Fund, and separate reporting cites roughly $72 million in additional public support across levels of government.
- Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke publicly criticized the subsidy on X, arguing such funding effectively lowers costs for a foreign multinational and disadvantages Canadian firms.