The Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has extended invitations to 100 major global investors for a summit to be held in Toronto this September, as reported by CBC News. The objective of the conference is to attract significant investment in Canada from organizations controlling substantial capital reserves.
Among the invited entities are prominent private investment firms like Blackrock and some of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, including Singapore’s GIC. Invitations were dispatched this week, with no responses received from the invitees at the time of publication.
This summit forms part of a broader strategy to encourage global investment in Canada amidst heightened uncertainty and volatility worldwide. Carney has been actively engaging with international leaders and private enterprises during his overseas visits to stimulate increased investment in Canada.
The pitch emphasizes Canada’s stability and reliability as an investment destination, particularly amidst geopolitical turmoil, trade disruptions, and conflicts. Michel Leduc, the senior managing director and chief public affairs officer at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, expressed optimism about Canada’s appeal, stating that “Canada is cool again.”
According to Leduc, the upcoming summit, tentatively named the Canada Investment Summit, aims to present “Canada, Inc.” as a secure and dependable environment for growth in an increasingly unstable global landscape. The event intends to showcase the opportunities Canada offers to global investors, akin to a large public company holding an investor day.
Recent trends indicate a positive shift in foreign investment in Canada, following a period of lagging behind other countries for over a decade. Notably, foreign direct investment in Canada has surged to its highest level since 2007, while outward investment flows from Canada have cooled off in 2025, according to Maria Solovieva from TD Economics.
While the specific projects to be presented at the summit remain undisclosed, there is consensus among business leaders and analysts on the critical sectors where Canada urgently needs to attract investment. These include the oil and gas industry, housing construction, and defense, among others.
The summit, scheduled for mid-September in Toronto, is a collaborative effort between CPPIB, PSP, and Invest in Canada. While the invitations have been sent out, the actual commitment of funds to specific projects is yet to be confirmed. The success of the summit in securing substantial investments remains to be seen.
