Prime Minister Mark Carney has extended invitations to 100 of the world’s leading investors for a summit scheduled to take place in Toronto in September, as reported by CBC News. The primary goal of the conference is to attract significant investments in Canada from organizations with vast capital resources.
Among the invitees are prominent private investment firms like Blackrock and some of the largest sovereign wealth funds globally, including Singapore’s GIC. While invitations were dispatched this week, none of the recipients had responded to CBC News at the time of publication.
This summit is part of a broader initiative to lure back international investments into Canada amidst the prevailing global uncertainties and volatility. Carney has been actively engaging with global leaders and private enterprises during his overseas trips to encourage more investments in Canada.
One of the key selling points is that amid the current geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions, Canada offers a stable and reliable environment for investments in areas such as ports, pipelines, and infrastructure projects. Michel Leduc, the senior managing director and chief public affairs officer at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, expressed optimism, stating, “Canada is in a really good place. Canada is cool again.”
The summit, which will be hosted by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, aims to showcase “Canada, Inc.” to investment firms seeking secure and stable growth opportunities in an increasingly uncertain world. Leduc emphasized the importance of highlighting Canada’s offerings to the global investment community, likening the event to a large public company’s investor day.
Recent trends indicate a positive upturn in foreign investments in Canada after a prolonged period of lagging behind other countries. Maria Solovieva from TD Economics noted that foreign direct investment in Canada had reached its highest level since 2007, while outward investment flows from Canada had decreased in 2025. This resurgence in investments comes after a period where factors such as the global oil price collapse in 2015 and regulatory uncertainties hindered investment attractiveness in Canada.
Carney has pledged to address these challenges by streamlining approval processes and designating key projects, such as the Contrecoeur Container Terminal Project and the McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine Project, as being in the national interest. However, business leaders stress the need for tangible actions beyond promises and agreements to attract significant investments.
The upcoming Canada Investment Summit, tentatively titled, is seen as a crucial opportunity to foster long-term relationships with major global investors. The event is envisioned to kickstart a new era of substantial investment opportunities in Canada, extending beyond the summit dates.
While specific project details were not disclosed by organizers, there is a consensus among industry leaders and analysts on the sectors where Canada urgently needs capital infusion. Key sectors like oil and gas, housing construction, and defense are highlighted as areas requiring substantial investments to drive economic growth and development.
The summit, set to convene in mid-September in Toronto, will be co-hosted by Canada’s largest pension plans, CPPIB and PSP, in collaboration with Invest in Canada. The event’s success will be measured not only by the number of attendees but also by the actual investments that materialize in critical projects across various sectors in Canada.