The prime minister is pitching Canada as a safe and reliable place for investment at a time of economic uncertainty, but some aren’t sold on outside investment yielding positive results for everyday Canadians.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rachel Small, an organizer with World Beyond War, a non-profit that campaigns against conflict, said Canadians are struggling to afford rent and the cost of living, and need more investment in education, transit and health care.<\/p>\n
“Carney is doing the opposite of that,” she said. <\/p>\n
“He is selling our public resources without any guaranteed returns and at the same time growing industries that will push the world towards greater war and climate catastrophe.”<\/p>\n
“These billionaires make decisions behind closed doors in our city to decide our futures. Our future is not for sale,” Small said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The protesters, a diverse group that includes representatives of labour unions, Indigenous leaders and climate and housing advocates, say they reject the idea of leaving Canada’s economic future in the hands of CEOs and worry about the future of public services, pipelines and arms manufacturing.<\/p>\n
On Monday evening, protesters gathered first in Nathan Phillips Square, then marched to a police barrier near the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), where the summit’s opening gala that was closed to the public and the media was being held. The crowd grew in size as it made its way to the AGO.<\/p>\n
Between 200 and 300 Toronto police officers were estimated to be in the area of the AGO to prevent protesters from breaking through the barricade.<\/p>\n
![\"Image_20260914_200025_429\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789462715_152_default.jpg\")
Protesters, including representatives of labour unions, Indigenous leaders and climate and housing advocates, say they reject the idea of leaving Canada’s economic future in the hands of CEOs and worry about the future of public services, pipelines and arms manufacturing. (Michael Cole\/CBC)<\/p>\n
Monday’s assembly of speakers gathered under the banner “The Many vs. The Money,” arguing the summit is designed to “auction off” Canadian public resources, according to its website. <\/p>\n
The crowd chanted, drummed and waved signs that urged investments in people, health care and the environment.<\/p>\n
AI spending, environmental impact, sovereignty among concerns<\/p>\n
“We’re here today because we represent young workers who want good jobs and a livable future,” said Hailey Asquin of the group Common Horizon.<\/p>\n
Asquin said her peers are not against investments but are concerned about spending on artificial intelligence, the military and fossil fuels.<\/p>\n
“We want to be part of building a Canada that we can be proud of, one that is a superpower in things like renewable energy and health care,” she said.<\/p>\n
Tom Deadman, a teacher from Ottawa, said he takes issue with Carney inviting executives from American companies in the midst of a trade war with the United States.<\/p>\n
“Our concern is that he is basically giving away massive parts of our public services to American CEOs,” he said.<\/p>\n
![\"Protesters](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789462715_139_default.jpg\")
Between 200 and 300 Toronto police officers were estimated to be in the area of the AGO to prevent protesters from breaking through the barricade. (Evan Mitsui\/CBC)<\/p>\n
Kakeka ThunderSky, a member of Poplar River First Nation, travelled from Winnipeg to join the protest out of concern about fast-tracked environmental assessments and government policies that affect First Nations’ land.<\/p>\n
“I came here \u2026 to confront Carney’s CEO summit to let them know that our lands and our resources are not on the chopping block for their profit and their benefit,” ThunderSky said.<\/p>\n
National sovereignty and the impact of various projects on the environment was also a prominent concern throughout the speeches.<\/p>\n
“Everybody worries about their own backyard. Our front yard is this entire planet and we must stand together to protect it.” said Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en Nation Hereditary Chief Na’Moks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“They’re taking everything we survive on and are willing to sell it to foreign investors.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘We would never compromise our national security’: Joly<\/p>\n
Federal Industry Minister M\u00e9lanie Joly, asked if the Canadian government is selling off Canada to foreign interests through the summit, said: “We would never do that. Why? Because, fundamentally, we always would work for Canadians and be able also to deliver for Canadians.<\/p>\n
“My job as minister of industry is to protect Canada’s interests through the Investment Canada Act,” Joly added.<\/p>\n
“Of course, we would never compromise our national security but fundamentally we are 42 million people and we don’t have enough capital to develop all of our companies and also to develop all of the infrastructure projects we need to develop the potential of this country. <\/p>\n
“So that’s why, like many other countries on Earth, we need to attract more foreign capital.”<\/p>\n
Joly said a successful summit would result in “good deals” and memorandums of understanding to show intent to do more deals. She said the government will see the impacts of the summit in three months to a year.<\/p>\n
WATCH | Carney invites investors to Toronto to discuss future partnerships:![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789462717_560_default.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
What is the Canada Investment Summit? Inside Carney’s investment summit in Toronto<\/p>\n
Hundreds of deep-pocketed investors have descended on Toronto for the first-of-its-kind summit. CBC\u2019s Clara Pasieka breaks down Prime Minister Mark Carney\u2019s pitch \u2014 and the pushback from critics.<\/p>\n
![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789462718_454_default.jpg\")
Nik Barry-Shaw, trade and privatization campaigner for the Council of Canadians, speaks at a news conference at Toronto’s city hall organized by a coalition of local leaders in opposition of the Canada Investment Summit on Sept. 14, 2026. (Claude Beaudoin\/CBC)<\/p>\n