OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney is extending an invitation to global investors as Canada’s first-ever investment summit begins on Monday in Toronto. The summit aims to attract new investments across various sectors, including energy, infrastructure, and critical minerals.
Hundreds of executives and asset managers from around the globe are convening for this high-stakes event, which will showcase major projects that are currently in different stages of development. Carney, alongside cabinet members and premiers from provinces across Canada, is expected to pitch the benefits of investing in Canadian markets over the next two days.
The summit will officially commence on Monday evening with a gala dinner at the Art Gallery of Ontario, an exclusive event that will not be open to the public or media representation. In a reception held for Canadian business leaders and politicians on Sunday evening, Carney hinted at several deals that have already been secured in anticipation of the summit.
Addressing attendees, Carney remarked, “We have what the world wants: the energy, the resources, the talent, the technology, and the capital.” His comments also included a not-so-subtle reference to U.S. President Donald Trump, as he emphasized that Canada’s greatest strength lies in the trust it has built globally.
On Tuesday, investors will gather at the downtown Four Seasons Hotel for a series of presentations regarding the investment landscape in Canada. The summit represents a crucial element of Carney's strategy aimed at stimulating a total of $1 trillion in investments across the country over the next five years.
Carney mentioned on Sunday that although there may be disagreements among attendees, they share a common vision for Canada’s trajectory. “There is a new consensus from Iqaluit to Victoria to Quebec City and St. John’s. Canada is taking control of our future,” he stated, outlining plans for increased construction, trade, and sustainable prosperity within the nation.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford highlighted that the summit has attracted participants from numerous countries, including Kuwait, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore, Qatar, Norway, Japan, and Australia. He noted that this event focuses on relationship-building and persuading investors that Ontario is among the most attractive places for investment globally.
Ford pointed out that there are 15 major projects being presented in Ontario, which encompass domains such as energy production and transmission, critical minerals, mining, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced manufacturing. “We are building an economy that can compete with anyone, anywhere. That’s going to be my message throughout the Canada Investment Summit,” he affirmed, adding that Ontario has vital resources that the world requires.
While the prime minister and the Ontario premier showcased the summit as a prime opportunity for securing investments, various civil society groups are voicing concerns about the event. Protesters—including labor unions, Indigenous leaders, and advocates for climate and housing issues—are planning demonstrations on Monday under the banner “The Many vs. The Money.” They intend to engage directly with summit attendees to express their dissent.
Critics of Carney's investment strategy argue that it places Canada’s economic future in the hands of corporate leaders and raises concerns over the impact on public services, pipelines, and arms manufacturing. Additionally, it has been confirmed that former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper is slated to deliver closing remarks at the summit.
