Canada wants to build data centres that are not just physically located here, but controlled here — a distinction experts say could determine whether the country can reduce its dependence on U.S. tech giants and keep Canadian data subject to Canadian rules.

How does a middle power compete with big tech from America? Canada's first-ever Minister of Artificial Intelligence outlined how at a Web Summit press conference.

Canada wants to build data centres that are not just physically located here, but controlled here — a distinction experts say could determine whether the country can reduce its…