Canada Investment Summit: What It Means for Investors

The recent Canada Investment Summit brought together global investors managing over $100 trillion in assets.¹ The ambitious goal? Attract $1 trillion in new investment into Canada over the next five years, positioning the country as a top destination for long-term capital.

Canada's investment pitch

Canada's pitch to global investors focused on its strong financial fundamentals: top credit ratings (similar to how individuals have credit scores, countries are rated on their ability to repay debts), the lowest net debt-to-GDP among G7 countries, and world-leading banking stability. These strengths formed the foundation for attracting significant investment commitments.

Major money commitments

Canada has secured nearly $500 billion in immediate financing pledges:

The "Maple Fund": Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Investments and Brookfield Asset Management launched a $50 billion partnership (each contributing $25 billion over five years) targeting large projects requiring at least $5 billion in funding. Each investment will be independently assessed by both organizations.

Pension & insurance company capital: Public Sector Pension (PSP) Investments is increasing its Canadian investments by 30-40% (approximately $25 billion based on current holdings), Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan committed an additional $10 billion by the end of 2027, and Sun Life pledged $5 billion over five years toward Canadian infrastructure.

Canadian bank lending commitments: Major pledges from TD Bank ($150 billion for energy, critical minerals, defense, artificial intelligence, and infrastructure), Scotiabank ($100 billion), and Bank of Montreal ($70 billion over 10 years in energy, mining, artificial intelligence, transport, and defense).

Key government policy changes

Two major policy changes could speed up investment timelines:

Business investment tax write-off: Announced at the summit, businesses can now immediately deduct the full cost of investments across approximately 65% of equipment and asset types (machinery, software, telecommunications and artificial intelligence infrastructure, mining properties, pipelines, and more). This $36 billion program over five years effectively lowers Canada's tax rate on new business investment to 6.4%—the lowest among G7 countries and less than half the U.S. rate. This makes Canada significantly more attractive for business investment.

Building Canada Act expansion: The Building Canada Act, passed in June 2025, aims to streamline approvals with "one project, one review, one year" for nationally important infrastructure. While no projects received this fast-track treatment in the first year, a West Coast Oil Pipeline proposal was published for public comment in August 2026 and will likely be the first approved. Three additional projects (Mackenzie Valley Highway, Grays Bay Road and Port, and a nuclear waste facility) began the approval process in June 2026.

Other notable developments

Airport operations: Ottawa is seeking private companies to operate its four largest airports (Toronto Pearson, Montréal-Trudeau, Calgary, and Vancouver). The government would keep ownership of the land while private operators would run day-to-day operations. The goal is to free up money for other priorities like regional transit. However, 53% of Canadians oppose or somewhat oppose this plan,² with concerns that private operators might prioritize profits over service quality—strong government oversight will be essential.

Artificial intelligence hub: Bell Canada and Saskatchewan announced a preliminary agreement to build a massive 1.2-gigawatt artificial intelligence computing and clean energy facility, representing over $50 billion in investment and potentially creating thousands of jobs. The initial phase (300 megawatts) is already under construction, with the larger expansion dependent on permits, customer commitments, and environmental approvals.

Investment opportunities

While benefits will take time to materialize, several Canadian businesses and industries are positioned to benefit from major infrastructure spending:

• Banks and investment managers will help finance infrastructure projects and benefit from increased economic activity. Australia's experience in the 2000s and 2010s offers a useful comparison—massive infrastructure investment led to export-driven prosperity and strong banking returns.
• Energy companies and pipelines stand to benefit from energy infrastructure within the 167 projects highlighted.
• Mining companies are well-positioned since nearly 38% (63 projects) focus on minerals and metals, particularly critical minerals needed for batteries and technology.
• Construction and engineering firms will support the massive building effort.
• Utilities and clean energy producers align with the summit's emphasis on power generation, while telecommunications companies may benefit from tax write-offs and direct involvement in projects like the Saskatchewan artificial intelligence hub.

What this means

The Canada Investment Summit marks a turning point in Canada's approach to attracting global investment. While still early, the combination of substantial funding commitments and supportive government policies signals a clear direction toward infrastructure-driven economic growth.

The report above was created by RBC Global Asset Management.

Dive Deeper

John Stackhouse, Senior Vice-President, Office of the CEO, RBC Thought Leadership, writes the true measure of the summit’s impact won’t be known for years, through deal flows and, ultimately, economic growth. But in the short term at least, it sent a new message to the world, that Canada has capital ambitions. Read his 10 takeaways from the event here.