Canada Launches Inaugural Investment Summit in Toronto to Attract Global Capital
Prime Minister Mark Carney hosted a reception at the Royal Ontario Museum ahead of Canada's first Investment Summit, aiming to secure $1 trillion in infrastructure and resource investments from global asset managers.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has launched an ambitious effort to attract global capital to Canada, hosting a reception at the Royal Ontario Museum on Sunday evening ahead of the country’s inaugural Investment Summit. The event, which begins officially on Monday in Toronto with a private gala dinner, aims to catalyze $1 trillion in investment for nation-building infrastructure and resource projects over the next five years.
Carney told business leaders that Canada’s greatest strength is trust, noting that global investors managing over $120 trillion in assets are coming to "peer into our shop window." The summit seeks to highlight opportunities in energy, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence, positioning Canada as a stable destination for long-term capital deployment.
The gathering features high-profile attendees, including CEOs from major funds such as Macquarie Group and Temasek Holdings. Prime Minister Carney is scheduled to meet with Shemara Wikramanayake of Macquarie Group and Dilhan Pillay of Temasek Holdings on Monday. Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to deliver the closing speech at the summit.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford highlighted the international scope of the event, noting that invitees hail from Kuwait, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore, Qatar, Norway, Japan, and Australia. Several Canadian institutional investors have already signaled increased domestic commitments. PSP Investments expects to boost its investments in Canada by 30-40% over the next few years, surpassing $100 billion invested at home. Additionally, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board CEO Jo Taylor committed to investing an additional $10 billion in Canadian markets by the end of 2027.
Despite the government’s emphasis on economic growth and strengthened trade relationships, the summit faces opposition. Protests involving labour unions, Indigenous leaders, and climate advocates are planned for Monday under the banner "The Many vs. The Money." Critics argue that the focus on corporate influence exacerbates global crises and threatens public services, contrasting with the officials' framing of the event as an opportunity for sustainable prosperity.