Carney investment summit in Toronto draws protests from Indigenous leaders, environmental groups and unions

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s push to attract foreign investment drew protesters to Toronto on Monday evening, as Indigenous leaders, environmental groups, union leaders and others marched against his agenda. Hundreds of executives and global asset managers gathered for Canada’s first national investment summit, while Carney pursues a target of attracting $1 trillion in new investment over the next five years.

Labour representatives, climate advocates and housing advocates rallied downtown before demonstrators moved toward the opening gala at the Art Gallery of Ontario, where police barriers were in place. Toronto police said the march had left Nathan Phillips Square and that road closures would be intermittent; Queen Street West was closed for a time between Nathan Phillips Square and McCaul Street.

Protesters said they opposed leaving Canada’s economic future to chief executives and were concerned about public services, pipelines and arms manufacturing. Hailey Asquin of Common Horizon said the group represented young workers seeking good jobs and a livable future. She said her peers were not opposed to investment, but were concerned about spending on artificial intelligence, the military and fossil fuels, and wanted Canada to build strength in areas such as renewable energy and health care.

Tom Deadman, a teacher from Ottawa, objected to Carney inviting executives from American companies during the trade war with the United States. He said he was concerned that major parts of public services could be handed to American chief executives.

Kakeka ThunderSky, a member of Poplar River First Nation who travelled from Winnipeg, said she was concerned about fast-tracked environmental assessments and government policies affecting First Nations land. She said she had come to challenge the summit and to make clear that Indigenous lands and resources should not be put at risk for others’ profit.

Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Na’Moks said earlier Monday in Toronto that Carney had used U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war to build support for major projects. Na’Moks, who has organized opposition to pipeline projects in B.C., criticized the argument that Canada must build more major projects to protect itself from predatory U.S. trade policy, saying such projects could not proceed without public and Indigenous support.

The summit is expected to draw leaders from some of the world’s largest asset managers, including BlackRock chairman and CEO Larry Fink and Blackstone president Jon Gray. Kai Nagata, spokesperson and director of energy and democracy for the environmental group Dogwood, said Canada needs investment, jobs and projects, but argued it should not rely on American billionaires who fund the MAGA movement and advise the U.S. president. He also criticized projects owned by those investors when jobs are located overseas.

Nik Barry-Shaw of the Council of Canadians described the event as a privatization summit and said he did not believe its outcome would benefit Canadians or Indigenous communities whose lands could be affected. He said the public did not appear to be shareholders in the asset-management enterprise he said Carney was leading.

At a Sunday reception with Canadian business leaders and politicians, Carney said his government was working in partnership with Indigenous groups to get projects built. His government faced vocal opposition from Indigenous leaders last year when it advanced legislation intended to speed up major projects, although the tone has since changed. Indigenous business leaders invited to the reception included First Nations Bank president and CEO Bill Lomax, First Nations Major Projects Coalition CEO Mark Podlasly and First Nations Financial Management Board deputy CEO Scott Munro.

Many young people in Indigenous communities remain opposed to Ottawa’s plans. A collective of Indigenous youth groups is holding events this week in Toronto, Ottawa and elsewhere in Ontario to protest the major-projects agenda, which it says threatens their lands and way of life. Ramon Kataquapit, founder of the First Nations youth movement Okiniwak, said the events, featuring keynote speakers and musical performances, aim to build solidarity.

The Prime Minister’s Office said leaders of the three national Indigenous organizations were invited to Sunday’s reception, but only Métis National Council president Victoria Pruden attended. Manitoba Métis Federation president David Chartrand, who has generally been receptive to Carney’s agenda, was also there, while the Assembly of First Nations sent a representative on behalf of the national chief. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed were expected at Monday evening’s opening gala.

In a social-media message to investors, Woodhouse Nepinak said direct discussions with chiefs and First Nations before major projects proceed could prevent costly legal disputes. She said First Nations must be owners and suppliers throughout projects, rather than being limited to labour roles for large companies, and must no longer be excluded.