Advertisement

Justin Trudeau to drum up billions in infrastructure investments at summit in Toronto

Click to play video: 'Justin Trudeau opening up infrastructure investment'
Justin Trudeau opening up infrastructure investment
WATCH: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is hoping to convince some of the most powerful fund managers in the World to invest in Canada. The Liberals economic plan hinges on massive infrastructure spending, but so does President-Elect Donald Trump, and his plan to cut corporate taxes could give the U.S. a huge advantage. Mike Le Couteur has a look at the money fight. – Nov 14, 2016

TORONTO – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began a day-long pitch Monday to some of the world’s most powerful institutional investors, urging them to invest in Canada, and specifically in infrastructure.

Trudeau’s first brief meeting was with Ontario financial representatives at a swank downtown Toronto hotel where he talked about a $180-billion investment opportunity.

“Canada has a made very strong commitment to be investing in infrastructure over the next 12 years,” Trudeau told the group of Canadian pension funds and financial institutions.

“We need to make sure that the investments we’re making are going to bring Canada in the right direction and done as efficiently as possible.”

READ MORE: Liberals announce Canada infrastructure bank: what is it and how does it work?

Trudeau talked about leveraging private capital to make taxpayer dollars “go even further.”

Story continues below advertisement

The aim, he said, was to put the country in the global vanguard when it comes to transit, green and other types of infrastructure.

“These are the things that we know are going to be a key part of Canada’s growth.”

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

The prime minister did not speak after the meeting and several of those in attendance, including the ahead of the Toronto-Dominion bank, declined to comment.

READ MORE: Crumbling roads: 33% of Canadians satisfied with national infrastructure, Ipsos poll finds

Trudeau and many members of his cabinet also planned a second meeting later Monday with two dozen representatives of large international pools of capital worth as much as $21 trillion. Those at the table were expected to include representatives of central banks, sovereign wealth funds, insurers and pension funds.

WATCH: The minister of infrastructure and communities, Amarjeet Sohi, defended the Liberals infrastructure budget by acknowledging ongoing and future projects, such as transit, that will help build cities across Canada.

Click to play video: 'Liberals defend infrastructure budget; says projects under construction'
Liberals defend infrastructure budget; says projects under construction

Attracting billions in private-sector capital for infrastructure projects is key to the Liberal government’s long-term strategy to boost Canada’s sluggish economic growth.

Story continues below advertisement

The investors’ summit comes just two weeks after Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced plans to launch an infrastructure bank next year, into which the government pledged to pump $35 billion over the coming decade.

In addition to the infrastructure bank, the government also intends to create a new Invest in Canada Hub for attracting foreign investment; and it plans to relax some restrictions on foreign investment.

The summit is being hosted by the federal government but BlackRock Inc., the world’s largest asset manager, organized the event. BlackRock’s legendary founder, Laurence Fink, was expected to be among the participants in the summit.

No specific projects have yet been identified for funding from the bank but Trudeau, Morneau and Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi were expected to tell potential investors that toll bridges, energy grids and water systems could all be attractive investments for fund managers looking for predictable, long-term returns.

With files from Joan Bryden in Ottawa.

Sponsored content

AdChoices