Carney says he's 'pleased' with Stephen Harper's support during investor summit - National Post

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during the second day of the inaugural Canada Investment Summit in Toronto on September 15, 2026. Photo by Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty ImagesArticle contentOTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney said he is “pleased” with former prime minister Stephen Harper’s support during his government’s inaugural Canada Investment Summit in Toronto.

“I’ve taken advice from Mr. Harper, I’ve taken advice from Mr. Chrétien, Mr. Trudeau, as I should in this role,” said Carney, during a press conference at the summit on Tuesday. “I’m pleased that he’s here supporting…this effort.”

Harper will deliver the keynote closing speech of the summit on Tuesday evening. The former Conservative prime minister currently serves as chairman of the Alberta Investment Management Corporation and is co-founder of the investment fund Vision-One Management.

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Carney said like other former prime ministers, Harper is a Canadian patriot and is well positioned in the global investment landscape.

“I’m aware that…in his current role, he’s influential, and he’s influential with a number of investors and businesses around world, and it’s helpful for Canada,” said Carney. “So, I thank him for those contributions.”

Just over year ago during the 2025 federal election, Harper endorsed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre for prime minister and took aim at Carney’s record, particularly his role in the global financial crisis as the governor of the Bank of Canada.

Still, Harper’s presence at Carney’s investment summit could be interpreted as an endorsement of the prime minister’s strategy to attract more global capital investment in Canada. Carney hopes to attract $1 trillion in investment over the next five years.

When asked on Tuesday whether Harper’s participation in the summit undermines his economic criticisms of Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said it doesn’t.