Introduction
Canada’s renewed commitment to infrastructure investment reflects both an economic necessity and a strategic opportunity.
The 2025 federal budget emphasizes a strategic shift towards infrastructure-led economic development, with a plan to invest about $280 billion in infrastructure over the next five years.
As the global landscape continues to evolve — shaped by technological disruption, climate imperatives, and demographic change — modern infrastructure has become more than a matter of national upkeep; it is a foundation for sustainable growth and long-term competitiveness.
Strategic Outlook
Given the shifting global economic landscape, Canada’s infrastructure investments will become a key strategic asset for the country’s future. The full benefits of these investments will only be realized if Canada succeeds in attracting and utilizing a wide range of talents and specialized skills. Today, many of these skills are in limited supply.
Executive Summary
This report explores:
Key drivers of Canada’s renewed focus on infrastructure investment
Economic growth, population growth, urbanization, and climate resilience.
Skills required of leaders to deliver sustainable, high-impact outcomes.
Project financing, risk management, and sustainable finance expertise, as well as government policy knowledge.
Canada’s infrastructure future depends on mobilizing specialized talent, deepening public-private collaboration, and embedding adaptive workforce strategies that reflect evolving geoeconomic priorities.
Having recently partnered with Massey Henry in the recruitment of a CEO — and drawing on my experience serving on the board of Building Ontario Fund — it is clear that today’s leaders must bring strategic insight, technical expertise, and collaborative leadership to fully realize the transformative potential of infrastructure investments.
Discover the key drivers of Canada’s renewed focus on infrastructure investment and the skills required of leaders to drive growth.
Drivers of Infrastructure Investment
1. Economic growth and job creation
Increased infrastructure investment in Canada is tied directly to economic growth.
Priority Projects
Over the past decade, successive Canadian governments have prioritized infrastructure investment in their financial strategies.
Modern infrastructure, including transportation networks, communication systems, energy facilities, and water management, supports economic activity across Canada.
For Canada – a natural resources export-driven economy – efficient transportation infrastructure is essential.
Simultaneously, the swift adoption of digital technology in both urban and rural centres requires the ongoing expansion of advanced communication and network infrastructure.
Infrastructure projects will act as strong catalysts for economic growth and employment opportunities. In light of declining export prospects with the U.S., these investments can help mitigate the effects of unforeseen economic and employment challenges. Most importantly, large-scale projects will also promote essential skills development and technological innovation, positioning the country for future prosperity.
2. Economic growth and job creation
Canada’s urban centres are experiencing rapid growth, driven primarily by international migration (Statistics Canada 2024). Cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal continue to expand, putting pressure on existing infrastructure systems.
Congestion, inadequate public transit, housing shortages, and aging infrastructure components affect the quality of life and economic productivity of regions. Investing in urban infrastructure is essential for managing these demographic shifts.
3. Climate resilience
While the future policy path remains unclear, tackling unpredictable and severe climate events will demand substantial investment and mobilization of financial and human resources.
It is essential both sectors remain steadfast in their commitment to identifying and developing specialized talent and investing in climate resilience.
Key Skills
What skills are required for leaders to navigate Canada’s evolving infrastructure landscape?
To effectively allocate capital, manage risks, and promote sustainability, professionals in financial services need to develop a comprehensive and advanced skill set.
These skills are critical for enabling the efficient use of resources, supporting risk mitigation, and encouraging sustainable practices:
Project finance and structuring expertise
Project finance is a key skill for infrastructure funding. Infrastructure projects involve large, multi-year investments with complex cash flow arrangements. Financial professionals must be adept at designing optimal financial structures – including debt and equity – that align with the project’s cash flows and risk profiles.
Along with deep financial expertise, infrastructure professionals need to demonstrate proficiency in structuring Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), which have become a a preferred model for infrastructure development in Canada.
Additional essential capabilities include:
- Negotiating agreements
- Understanding government incentives
- Structuring long-term concession contracts
Risk management and mitigation
Infrastructure projects inherently involve various risks — such as construction delays, regulatory changes, environmental impacts, market fluctuations, and operational issues. Real asset professionals need to be equipped with advanced skills in risk assessment and management and the capabilities to identify, measure, and develop strategies to mitigate these risks.
Effective risk management ensures project stability, attracts investment, and maintains financial viability throughout the project lifecycle.
Sustainable finance expertise
As Canada advances its climate action and sustainable development goals, financial services professionals must develop expertise in green finance and environmental, social, and governance criteria. This includes understanding green bonds, social bonds, and sustainability-linked loans designed to fund environmentally beneficial infrastructure projects. These skills require technical knowledge and specialized work experience, resulting in a limited number of professionals who possess these attributes.
Regulatory and government policy knowledge
Infrastructure professionals in Canada operate within a complex, multi-level governance environment, where they are required to navigate stakeholders at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels, requiring leaders with the ability to:
- Understand guidelines related to regulations, subsidies, and procurement processes.
- Stay informed about dynamic policy changes and propose compliant financial solutions to maintain project momentum.
Innovative financial instruments and solutions
The rapidly evolving financial landscape introduces new instruments and approaches that can accelerate infrastructure projects. Skills in designing and implementing innovative tools such as blended finance models are increasingly important.
Blended finance, which combines public and private funding, can reduce risks for private investors by unlocking additional long-term capital from public sources that is not restricted. A thorough understanding of how these arrangements work supports the creation of more flexible and diverse financing options, encourages increased investor participation, and creatively bridges funding gaps.
Stakeholder engagement
Financial professionals must convey complex ideas clearly to a diverse group of stakeholders, including government agencies, private investors, community groups, and international partners. Effective communication builds trust and generates momentum for complex multistakeholder initiatives.
Success also depends on two key capabilities:
- Negotiation skills, to secure favourable terms and align interests among multiple parties.
- Transparent reporting and disclosure, particularly on performance metrics and risk management strategies, to strengthen stakeholder support and attract long-term investment.
Looking Ahead
Ensuring a strategic human capital approach for Canada’s infrastructure future
The future of infrastructure investment in Canada hinges on the strength of its talent ecosystem and the strategic alignment of capital, capability, and collaboration.
Finance leaders must possess the skills and communication capabilities to manage complex,
long-term, multistakeholder projects.
Priorities for Canadian professionals should include upgrading current infrastructure, improving digital connectivity, developing climate-resilient systems, and supporting sustainable urban growth.
Both the public and private sectors, supported by academic institutions, must take a coordinated approach to developing and retaining the talent required to build the next generation of infrastructure.
Key takeaways:
Elevating talent as a strategic asset
The infrastructure sector’s success depends on cultivating professionals with advanced skills in finance, project structuring, sustainability, and stakeholder management.
Bridging the skills gap
Pathways must be developed for education, training, and cross-sector collaboration to expand the talent pool in high-demand areas.
Aligning policy and practice
Clear, coordinated policy direction across all levels of government will help attract investment, reduce uncertainty, and accelerate project delivery.
Embedding sustainability and innovation
Integrating ESG principles and innovative financing models will strengthen Canada’s position as a leader in resilient and sustainable infrastructure development.
About Massey Henry
Executive Search, Coaching, Assessment, and Advisory Services
Ranked among Canada’s Top Growing Companies by The Globe and Mail, Massey Henry is one of North America’s leading executive search and board advisory firms focused exclusively on the financial services sector. With an experienced team of industry leaders and executive recruitment specialists, the firm combines innovation with sector expertise to provide clients with full-scope talent assessment, coaching, succession planning, and executive search services.
Michael Henry
Managing Partner, Massey Henry
John Sanders
Senior Partner, Board & CEO Services
Lisa Newey
Partner
Carmen Jefferey
Principal