Canada’s persistent weakness in business investment and productivity has renewed attention to how businesses access the capital they need to grow. Private credit and private equity are playing a larger role in financing companies globally, raising important questions about how these markets can develop in Canada and contribute more effectively to investment and growth.
On December 1, 2026, the C.D. Howe Institute will bring together private-market leaders, institutional investors, financial institutions, policymakers, academics and regulators to examine the role private capital can play in supporting Canadian business financing and investment. The discussion will consider the conditions needed for these markets to grow while maintaining confidence in the broader financial system.
The day is organized around three themes: 1) the scale and structure of private markets in Canada; 2) how private capital can widen financing options for Canadian businesses; and 3) the policy and regulatory framework shaping their development.
The conference marks the launch of a Private Markets Work Program at the Institute’s Centre on Financial and Monetary Policy.
A limited number of sponsorship opportunities remain available. To learn more, please contact events@cdhowe.org.
C.D. Howe Institute events and webinars are open to members and their guests.
Please follow this link or contact events@cdhowe.org to register.
Member / Member-Guest - $199
Non-Member - $299
Table of 6 - $1499
Agenda
Registration & Breakfast
Welcome Remarks
Session 1: Private Credit and Private Equity in Canada: Scale, Structure, and Interconnections
Session 2: Private Markets and Canadian Business Lending
Keynote Lunch
Session 3: Regulation and Peer Models
Wrap-Up Panel: Key Takeaways and Priorities for the Work Program
Interested in becoming a Member of the C.D. Howe Institute? Please fill out the application form below and our team will be in touch with next steps. Note that Membership is subject to approval.
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