Prime Minister Mark Carney has extended invitations to 100 of the world’s top investors for a summit scheduled to take place in Toronto in September, as revealed by CBC News. The purpose of the conference is to persuade organizations with significant capital resources 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 any of the recipients contacted by CBC News prior to the article’s publication.
The summit is a key component of a broader strategy to attract global investments back to Canada amid heightened uncertainty and volatility on the global stage. Carney has been actively engaging with international leaders and private sector entities during his overseas visits to promote increased investment in Canada.
A core component of the appeal to potential investors is Canada’s reputation as a stable and secure destination for investments in key sectors like ports, pipelines, and infrastructure projects amidst ongoing geopolitical challenges and trade disruptions.
Michel Leduc, the senior managing director and chief public affairs officer at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, which is set to host the summit, expressed optimism about Canada’s investment appeal. Leduc likened the event to a large public company’s investor day, aiming to showcase what Canada has to offer to the global investment community.
Recent indicators suggest a positive shift in foreign investment trends in Canada after a period of underperformance compared to other nations. Notably, foreign direct investment in Canada reached its highest level since 2007, while outward investment flows from Canada decreased in 2025, according to insights from Maria Solovieva at TD Economics.
While there were initial setbacks in investment due to factors like the 2015 global oil price crash, criticisms were also directed at government policies, including new regulations that exacerbated the investment environment. Carney has committed to addressing these challenges by streamlining approval processes and designating key projects as nationally significant, such as the Contrecoeur Container Terminal Project and the McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine Project.
Business leaders in Canada emphasize the importance of tangible actions beyond promises and discussions to attract investments. Goldy Hyder, CEO of the Business Council of Canada, views the upcoming summit as an opportunity to demonstrate Canada’s capacity for significant project development and execution, which has been lacking in the past.
The summit, tentatively named the Canada Investment Summit, is expected to establish enduring relationships with major players in the investment realm and potentially pave the way for substantial opportunities in the future, according to Leduc.
While specific projects to be presented at the summit have not been disclosed, there is consensus among industry experts and analysts on priority sectors requiring urgent capital influx. These sectors include oil and gas infrastructure, housing construction, and defense, where Canada seeks to attract substantial investments.
Foreign investment firms are closely monitoring Canada’s initiatives, indicating a favorable moment for the country to leverage this interest and attract more foreign investments. The summit, slated for mid-September in Toronto, is a collaborative effort between key players like CPPIB, PSP, and Invest in Canada. However, the attendance and subsequent investment decisions of the invitees remain unconfirmed as of now.