Canada seeks $1tn from investors looking for a haven from Trump

Mark Carney is trying to convert American political volatility into a Canadian investment premium. Around 200 major financial executives are being brought to Toronto as Canada pitches 167 projects — ports, pipelines, nuclear power and AI data centres — and aims to redirect just 1% of an estimated $120tn pool of global capital toward Canada.

The pitch is essentially: you may earn more in the US, but Canada offers a triple-A-rated jurisdiction whose trade, regulatory and foreign policies will not suddenly change with a presidential social-media post.

The harder question is whether Canada can actually deploy the money. Earlier this summer, officials reportedly told UAE investors — despite a C$70bn investment commitment — that many projects were not ready for capital because approvals, planning and financing work remained unfinished.

Carney is betting that geopolitical predictability itself can become an export, but Canada still has to solve the very permitting and productivity problems that previously deterred investment.