Toronto – Prime Minister Mark Carney opened a high‑profile investment summit this week, inviting dozens of the world’s largest asset managers to discuss funding for over 160 Canadian projects. The two‑day event, held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, is intended to bolster Canada’s economy as the United States maintains heightened tariffs that threaten cross‑border trade.
World‑class investors on the agenda
Among the confirmed attendees are BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Blackstone President Jon Gray, both representing the United States, as well as Temasek’s CEO Dilhan Pillay from Singapore and Dutch pension fund APG Groep’s CEO Annette Mosman. A government source said the roster reflects Carney’s personal network from his former roles at Goldman Sachs and the Bank of Canada.
Carney told the opening reception that the summit offers “the world’s largest investors, managing over C$120 trillion of assets, a chance to peer into our shop window because the world is looking at Canada differently.” He pledged to cut red tape and accelerate development in mining, energy, technology and infrastructure, targeting C$1 trillion (about $721 billion) in new investment over the next five years.
Key projects and sectors
The prospectus shared with Reuters outlines a mix of early‑stage concepts and shovel‑ready ventures. Highlights include a photonic quantum‑computer project by Xanadu slated for commercial use by 2029‑2030, a data‑center campus in Alberta, and a hyperscale AI‑focused campus in New Brunswick. The Crawford Nickel Project, which will produce low‑carbon nickel for batteries and green steel, also features prominently.
Infrastructure proposals are attracting pension‑fund interest, notably a C$900 million request for a high‑speed transportation pod linking Calgary and Edmonton. Canada’s foreign‑direct investment (FDI) has risen steadily since 2022, with quarterly averages around C$23 billion in 2024‑2025, up from C$16.3 billion in 2023.
Industry reactions
Erik Peterson, managing director of Kearney’s Global Business Policy Council, called the summit “a window of stability” for investors seeking reliable returns amid global uncertainty. Doug Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital Markets, cautioned that greenfield investment – new factories and warehouses – has not surged since Carney took office, noting the challenge of attracting such capital in a mature economy.
Canadian banks are also stepping up. Royal Bank of Canada announced a C$1.4 billion commitment to technology firms, Bank of Montreal pledged up to C$70 billion for critical sectors, CIBC pledged C$2 billion for defence businesses, and Sun Life pledged C$5 billion for infrastructure projects.
Strategic shift
Carney’s agenda marks a departure from his predecessor’s focus on human‑rights and climate policy, emphasizing economic diversification and stronger ties with the Middle East, Asia and Europe. He has signaled openness to Saudi investors and has worked to repair relationships with India and China.
While the summit’s immediate deals may take 12 to 18 months to close, officials hope the event will “supercharge” Canada’s FDI flow and reinforce the country’s reputation as a stable, predictable market for long‑term investors.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
