The first Canada Investment Summit has resulted in nearly $500 billion in new investment commitments to Canada, according to the federal government, as pension funds, banks and investment firms outlined plans for Canadian businesses, infrastructure and strategic industries.

The commitments were announced at the summit in Toronto, which brought together investors from nearly 30 countries managing more than $100 trillion in assets, according to the Prime Minister's Office. The event was hosted in partnership with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Public Sector Pension Investment Board.

Pension funds, insurers commit nearly $100 billion

Canadian pension funds, insurers and institutional investors committed nearly $100 billion in new capital to Canadian assets, including investments in infrastructure, technology, energy and other strategic sectors.

CPP Investments and Brookfield Asset Management launched the $50-billion Maple Fund to invest in critical infrastructure and strategic industries across Canada. PSP Investments said it would increase its Canadian investments by 30 to 40 per cent, representing an additional $25 billion and bringing its total Canadian investment to $100 billion.

The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan said it would invest an additional $10 billion in Canadian opportunities across public and private markets by the end of 2027. Sun Life Financial said it would invest $5 billion over the next five years in critical infrastructure, including digital technology, energy and transportation.

Banks outline financing plans

Canada's major banks committed nearly $325 billion in new financing for Canadian businesses and infrastructure, with much of the funding directed toward sectors identified as strategically important by the government.

TD Bank said it would provide $150 billion in financing over five years across energy, critical minerals and resources, defence and aerospace, digital and artificial intelligence, and infrastructure. Scotiabank said it would provide more than $100 billion in financing over five years to support Canadian companies and projects in key sectors.

BMO said it would invest and mobilize $70 billion over 10 years in areas including energy and transportation infrastructure, mining and critical minerals, AI computing, and defence and security. CIBC said it would provide $2 billion in financing to small and medium-sized defence-related and dual-use businesses in Canada, including companies in infrastructure, energy, cybersecurity, digital capabilities and advanced technologies.

RBC said it would invest and mobilize nearly $1.5 billion to support Canadian technology companies with high growth potential, including access to commercialization opportunities, strategic partnerships and expansion support.

Investment funds also committed to mobilize more than $14 billion in capital for Canadian companies, infrastructure and strategic sectors. Power Sustainable said it would invest and mobilize more than $10 billion for Canadian infrastructure involving power and the grid, fibre and data, environmental solutions and food supply chains.

Radical Ventures said it would invest and mobilize $4 billion to launch the Radical Breakouts Fund, described by the government as the largest venture capital fund of its kind in Canadian history, to support Canadian AI scale-ups.

New infrastructure and investment measures

The summit also coincided with a major planned expansion of Bell Canada's AI Fabric in Saskatchewan, announced in partnership with the provincial government. The $52.5-billion capital investment is intended to create a 1.2-gigawatt Canadian AI infrastructure hub and is expected to create more than 4,500 jobs in construction, operations, management and related services.

The federal government also announced a new Productivity Mega Deduction that would allow businesses to deduct the cost of a broader range of assets immediately, including fibre-optic cable, mining property, oil and gas pipelines, software, research and development, computer equipment, aircraft and vehicles, patents, rail track, bridges and roads.

The government said the measure, combined with making immediate expensing permanent, would reduce Canada's marginal effective tax rate on new business investment from roughly 13 per cent to 6.4 per cent. It said that would be the lowest rate among major economies and less than half the rate in the United States.

The government also said it would seek private investment through long-term concessions to operate Canada's four largest airports while retaining ownership of the underlying land and assets. It said the capital raised could be reinvested in regional airports, local transportation infrastructure and other projects, including a proposed sovereign broadband backbone connecting Canadians across the country.

Defence and critical minerals

The federal government announced $700 million in new funding through the Business Development Bank of Canada to accelerate growth in Canadian defence and dual-use technologies. The funding includes $500 million for specialized investment funds and $200 million for StrongNorth, increasing that fund from $300 million to $500 million.

The investments form part of the BDC's $6-billion Defence Platform, which provides Canadian companies with financing, investment and advisory support.

The government also committed approximately $140 million through the Canada Growth Fund to support Generation Mining's Marathon Project in Northwestern Ontario. The project, described as one of Canada's only fully permitted, shovel-ready critical minerals projects, is expected to produce copper and palladium.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said the summit was intended to translate international investor interest into commitments to Canada.

"The Canada Investment Summit brought the world to Canada with a clear message: Canada is building big. Build with us. We unleashed nearly $500 billion of new investment into Canadian businesses and infrastructure – and this is just the beginning. The world sees our strengths and ambitions, and we will harness this moment to generate lasting growth, opportunity, and prosperity for Canadians. Canada is boldly unleashing our enormous potential, and we are just getting started."

CPP Investments president and chief executive John Graham said the next stage would be turning the relationships established at the summit into investment.

"The Canada Investment Summit has reinforced the depth of global interest in Canada and the opportunity to turn that interest into action. Over the past two days, we have brought together leading investors, businesses, and public-sector partners around a compelling investment case for Canada, and identified concrete areas for further engagement. The CPP Investments team is energised by the conversations and stands ready to work with partners around the world to create enduring value in Canada for the CPP Fund. The real measure of this Summit will be what happens next, and I am confident the relationships and momentum built here can translate into meaningful investment and lasting economic value."

PSP Investments president and chief executive Deborah K. Orida said the summit had established a foundation for further investment.

"PSP Investments is proud to have played a role in reinforcing Canada's standing as a destination of choice for global capital. Canadian business leaders and global investors have answered the call. We have a solid foundation in place. Now we need to capitalise on it. In this new global investing regime, Canada is well positioned to compete for capital, and we are confident in the momentum already taking shape."