Why Are Chinese Government-Linked Investors Coming to Toronto?
Several investors linked to the Chinese government are coming to Prime Minister Mark Carney's Canada Investment Summit in Toronto on Sept. 14-15, 2026, The Globe and Mail.
They include China International Capital Corp. (CICC), China Investment Corp. — a large fund owned by China's government — and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, which looks after money for Hong Kong's Exchange Fund. CICC is about 40 per cent owned by Central Huijin Investment, which is owned by China Investment Corp.
Ottawa says the rules still apply. The Prime Minister's Office said Chinese investors must follow Canada's foreign-investment rules. PMO deputy director of communications Audrey Champoux said "Canada has existing laws such as the Investment Canada Act to protect economic and national security assets and will continue to apply them." That Act lets Ottawa review foreign deals and block ones that harm the economy or security.
This is the first Canada Investment Summit. It is Sept. 14-15 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto, Government of Canada. Ottawa says it is a working meeting about money that stays invested for many years.
The plan is to introduce people. About 100 global investors will meet Canadian CEOs, companies and local officials to talk about investments or partnerships, Reuters. That includes foreign capital and Canada's big pension funds. Carney will open the main program on Sept. 15 with a speech and a public conversation with Ms. Orida of PSP Investments.
Others are invited too. Carney has said he looks forward to welcoming Saudi investors to Toronto. Dozens of firms are expected in all.
Carney wants $1 trillion in investment over five years to make Canada less dependent on the United States.
Ottawa has said no before. In 2018, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blocked state-owned China Communications Construction Company Ltd. from buying Aecon Group Ltd. for security reasons.
Michael Kovrig and researcher Patricia Xavier warned in a blog post that Chinese government-linked investment could make it harder in Canada to toughen China policy later.
The broader context here is who decides, and when. An invitation is like a job interview. It is not a job offer. Under the system Champoux described, any plan from Toronto involving government-owned money would still need Ottawa's review for benefit and security.
Looking at what this means for Ottawa, the risk cuts both ways. The summit needs big names to show Canada is open. Those guests will then favour stable access to Canada. Kovrig and Xavier's warning is about that second part. It would leave Ottawa with less room to change course if money is fixed before policy is set.
