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Carney gambles on the world's biggest investors betting on Canada

September 13, 2026

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is hosting a two-day investment summit in Toronto, bringing together over 100 global investors managing more than $72 trillion in assets as Canada seeks to reduce its economic dependence on the United States. The initiative comes 18 months after the collapse of U.S.-Canada trade relations, marked by tariff disputes and deteriorating diplomatic ties. Carney is leveraging his extensive connections from his career in global finance, including stints at Goldman Sachs and as a central banker, to personally invite major sovereign wealth funds and financial executives to invest in Canadian sectors like AI, defense, and infrastructure.

Who is affected

  • Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Canadian government
  • Over 100 global investors managing C$100 trillion in assets
  • Sovereign wealth funds from the United Arab Emirates and Norway
  • Finance company executives including BlackRock's Larry Fink and Blackstone's Jon Gray
  • Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
  • Canadian businesses and the general Canadian economy
  • The United States (indirectly, as Canada's former primary trading partner)

What action is being taken

  • Toronto is hosting a two-day investment summit at a luxury hotel
  • Carney is pitching global investors on Canada's energy, resources, and political stability
  • Canada is seeking investments in AI, defense, transportation, and infrastructure projects
  • The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is co-hosting the summit

Why it matters

  • This summit represents a significant strategic pivot for Canada as it attempts to build a "more independent, more resilient economy" following the breakdown of its century-old economic relationship with the United States. With U.S. trade exports worth 20% of Canada's GDP—one of the highest bilateral trade rates globally—the stakes are enormous for Canada's economic future. The summit tests whether Canada can attract sufficient international investment to compensate for potential permanent losses in U.S. trade, shifting from its traditional pitch as a gateway to American markets to standing on its own economic merits.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC