In the run-up to the inaugural Canadian Investment Summit, many questions were raised about its agenda and participants.

Yes, it was clear that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wanted the country to be in the spotlight and to raise a significant amount of money, but how compelling could his message be?

Once the summit started, participants and its audience learned about a stunning amount of more than 160 investment opportunities. Financial institutions, mainly Canadian and some abroad, showed commitments to invest in Canada over the coming years. Every Canada-loving person expressed the hope that the summit would kickstart the rebirth of a thriving Canadian economy. It will be curious to see whether the summit leads to a true tipping point or if it will be just a short moment of euphoria.

Read: Canada’s inaugural investment summit draws $500 billion from pension funds, banks

Carney is a gifted speaker, but what has really changed? Aren’t the bureaucracy and the hurdles of doing business in Canada not the same as in the run-up to the summit? And why are several large public pension funds so eager to announce that they’ll invest more in Canadian assets?........

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