With institutional investors becoming the financing cornerstones in the increasing demand for new infrastructure projects in Canada and abroad, the opportunities and challenges are varied — along with investors’ expectations for the sector.

In a panel discussion at the Canadian Investment Review’s 2026 Global Investment Conference, Frédéric Lesage (pictured centre), managing director of infrastructure at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, said the opportunities in Canada are twofold: the upgrade of legacy infrastructure and brand-new infrastructure projects.

This latter category includes opportunities in electrification, decarbonization, grid improvement, interprovincial connection, logistics and digital infrastructure, he said, noting the Caisse, which has a $75-billion infrastructure portfolio, is building a new container port terminal in Montreal, has privatized Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. and is part of the consortium in line to develop and build the high-speed train between Quebec City and Toronto.

Read: Caisse buys renewable energy operator, invests in $300M debt facility for internet company

Indeed, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s mandate priorities are heavily........

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