The Caisse de dépot et placement du Québec is taking a 20% stake in the Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk, England. It is the UK’s first new nuclear power plant since the 1990s, and Professor Sebastien Betermier credits the government there with creating the favourable circumstances for private investors like the Caisse to take part in infrastructure development. “In this particular project, I believe the U.K.

Nine of the directors who oversee Canada’s largest pension funds also hold positions at fossil fuel companies, according to a report by Pensions and Investments.

In Canada, investment in infrastructure has lagged, but infrastructure banks are one way to provide financing for large-scale infrastructure projects that could take decades to pay off. “Canada needs new infrastructure – housing, energy, ports – it’s all critical to our future,” says Prof. Sebastien Betermier. “But there’s a catch-22: developers can’t move forward without financing, and investors are wary of early-stage risk.

Canada’s big pension funds are the envy of fund managers in other countries. They’re something that the UK’s defined contribution plance could aspire to, writes Padraig Floyd in Pensions Expert. “They’re all public, but they’re run like private sector corporations,” said Prof. Sebastien Betermier. "They have a governance system and delegation framework which is such that they're able to pay market salaries, so they can attract the best people.

The Trump administration’s tariffs have catalyzed a cross-country movement to buy Canadian products. But will that movement affect the how Canada’s big pension funds manage their portfolios? The eight largest pension plans in Canada hold more than $2 trillion in assets, but only about a quarter of those assets are Canadian. Some Canadian politicians and business leaders have called for our pension plans to invest more of their money at home, but government involvement in pension fund management can get in the way of these funds primary objective—to deliver returns for pension plan members.

With increasing market volatility, Professor Sebastien Betermier shares his advice on how Quebec investors can weather economic uncertainty. In an interview with the Motnreal Gazette, he emphasizes the importance of staying disciplined, avoiding panic and hasty decisions, and consulting a financial planner before making changes. Betermier highlights the risk of overreacting to short-term fluctuations in the market and advises to focus on long-term investment goals.

Canada’s Maple 8 pension funds are globally respected for strong returns and independence from government influence. However, recent political moves threaten this model. The federal government has encouraged more domestic investment, while Alberta’s government fired AIMCo’s board, raising fears of political interference. “When you start investing based on political objectives, you risk compromising returns,” warns Associate Professor of Finance Sebastien Betermier.