Carney said economic activity had picked up from the investment summit – National

The protest is set to take place at a prime ministerial summit aimed at attracting new investment to Canada, with organizers saying Mark Carney is friends with business leaders they say are exacerbating the global crisis.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada has an unprecedented opportunity to build the economy as global investors flock to Toronto for a high-stakes summit, and said a number of deals have already been signed.

Hundreds of global executives and asset managers arrived in Toronto for Canada’s first investment summit to see major projects in various stages of development.

Speaking Sunday evening at the Royal Ontario Museum, Carney told Canadian business leaders and politicians that the world views Canada differently, and Canada must do the same.

“We have what the world wants: energy, resources, talent, technology and capital,” Carney said.

“And our greatest strength is something that cannot be found on any balance sheet: trust,” he said, apparently taking a swipe at US President Donald Trump.

Get daily National news

Get Canada’s daily news stories delivered to your inbox so you never miss the day’s top stories.

Among those attending were Cohere CEO Aidan Gomez and Canada’s chief trade commissioner, Sara Wilshaw.

The summit is a key part of Carney’s plan to stimulate $1 trillion in investment in Canada over the next five years.

Carney said while those at the meeting may not always agree, and don’t necessarily agree, they all agree on Canada’s goals.

“There is a new consensus from Iqaluit to Victoria to Quebec City and St. Johns: Canada is taking control of our future,” he said. “We will build more, we will trade more with each other and with the world, and we will create more sustainable prosperity here at home.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the invitees came from Kuwait, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore, Qatar, Norway, Japan and Australia.

“This is about building relationships, opening doors and making the case that Ontario is one of the most invested places in the world,” Ford said in a media statement.

He said 15 major projects in Ontario are on offer, including energy production and transmission, critical minerals and mining, AI and advanced manufacturing.

“We are building an economy that can compete with anyone, anywhere. That will be my message during the Canada Investment Summit,” Ford said.

“Ontario has what the world needs and we will make sure the world knows it.”

Although Ford and Carney pitched the meeting as an investment opportunity in Canada, civil society groups say they continue to engage with business leaders who are exacerbating the global crisis.

Protesters, including labor unions, indigenous leaders and climate and housing advocates, will mobilize on Monday carrying banners reading “More vs. Money,” and planning “direct interventions” with participants.

Organizers say they reject Carney’s plan to put Canada’s economic future in the hands of CEOs, and they worry about the future of public services, pipelines and weapons manufacturing.

— With files from Craig Lord and Alessia Passafiume in Ottawa

&copy 2026 Canadian Press