Prime Minister Mark Carney has extended invitations to 100 top global investors for a summit in Toronto scheduled for September. The purpose of the event is to persuade organizations controlling significant capital to consider investing in Canada.
Among the invitees are major private investment firms like Blackrock and prominent sovereign wealth funds such as Singapore’s GIC. The invitations were dispatched this week, and there has been no response from the invited parties as of now.
The summit is part of a larger initiative to attract global investment to Canada amid escalating uncertainty and volatility worldwide. Carney has been engaging with international leaders and private enterprises during his overseas visits to boost investment interest in Canada.
The pitch emphasizes that in the midst of geopolitical instability and trade disruptions, Canada presents a stable investment environment for ventures in ports, pipelines, and infrastructure projects. Michel Leduc, senior managing director and chief public affairs officer at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, expressed optimism about Canada’s appeal to global investors, stating, “Canada is in a favorable position. Canada is gaining renewed interest.”
Leduc described the summit as an opportunity to showcase “Canada, Inc.” to investment firms seeking a secure and dependable environment for growth in an increasingly uncertain world. He likened the event to a large public company hosting an investor day.
The summit’s timing is crucial for Canada, as foreign investment has been lagging behind other countries for over a decade. However, there are positive indications of an uptick in foreign investment in Canada recently. Maria Solovieva from TD Economics noted that foreign direct investment in Canada reached its highest level since 2007, while outward investment flows from Canada decreased in 2025.
To address the investment stagnation, Carney has pledged to streamline approval processes and has initiated various projects deemed to be in the national interest, ranging from the Contrecoeur Container Terminal Project to the McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine Project.
Despite the positive steps taken, business leaders stress that actions must follow words to attract investments effectively. Goldy Hyder, CEO of the Business Council of Canada, emphasized the need for Canada to demonstrate its capacity to undertake significant projects and build investor confidence.
The upcoming summit, tentatively named the Canada Investment Summit, aims to establish long-term relationships with major investment entities, with hopes of generating lasting opportunities and growth prospects.
While specific projects to be presented at the summit were not disclosed, industry experts highlight key sectors where Canada urgently needs capital infusion, such as oil and gas infrastructure, housing construction, and defense expenditures. Organizers are targeting sectors where Canada faces pressure to attract investments promptly.
The summit is slated to take place in Toronto in mid-September, co-hosted by the leading pension plans CPPIB and PSP, in collaboration with Invest in Canada. Despite the invitations being sent out, the attendance status of the invitees remains unconfirmed at this time.
