A Vancouver-based firm is encouraging Canadians to invest locally and create a positive impact, even as financial trends indicate a continued outflow of capital to the U.S. that is expected to persist through 2026. The momentum for the “Buy Canadian” initiative gained traction in 2025, spurred by ongoing trade tensions and remarks from then-President Donald Trump suggesting the possibility of making Canada the 51st state.
Despite the rising enthusiasm for Canadian goods, many investors in the country have remained committed to placing their financial resources offshore, particularly in the United States. According to a financial expert, the initial enthusiasm for domestic investments that surged in early 2025 has since diminished.
Shift in Investment Attitudes
Daisy Mak, a certified financial planner at Vancouver Financial Planners, noted that numerous clients approached her with the intent to invest in Canadian assets when Trump was re-elected. However, she cautioned, “It’s important to consider how we can achieve this.” She emphasized the impracticality of completely divesting from U.S. investments, stating, “It’s just not realistic.” Mak acknowledged that while Canada’s banking and insurance sectors remain solid investment choices, the country still lags in areas such as technology and pharmaceuticals. She advised that while investing in Canada is beneficial, it should represent a smaller portion of a diversified portfolio that includes international markets. “Adopting an all-Canadian approach could be detrimental to your financial health,” she warned.
Local Investment Sentiments
Statistics Canada recently disclosed that U.S. financial assets constituted $111 billion of the foreign securities acquired by Canadians during the first three quarters of 2025, accounting for an impressive 92 percent of the total. Additionally, Canada experienced a net outflow of $61.9 billion in securities transactions from January to September. Despite these trends, Blake Bunting, co-founder of GoParity Canada, has observed a notable rise in Canadian investment sentiment this year. “Many individuals are eager to invest and earn returns while ensuring their funds contribute positively to the community,” he remarked.
GoParity identifies itself as a “community capital” or crowd-lending platform, where users typically contribute amounts ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 to finance community projects. Investors receive interest from the loans, which support various initiatives, including clean energy projects on Vancouver Island and an Indigenous-run daycare in Stephenville, N.S. “It’s not about shifting all your assets to small businesses; rather, it’s a portion of your investments that can yield a significant impact compared to the bulk of your portfolio,” Bunting explained.
Commitment to Responsible Investing
A recent report from the Responsible Investment Association, released on November 25, highlighted that for wealth managers, the importance of investing in projects certified by an environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) framework remains paramount. Over 80 Canadian asset and investment managers surveyed indicated that greenhouse gas emissions and climate change mitigation are major factors in their investment decisions, despite resistance from Trump regarding net-zero policies. Trump’s administration has moved away from many climate initiatives, and his party has criticized global “net zero” strategies.
The report also pointed out that “negative media coverage” surrounding responsible investing in other regions has emerged as the primary obstacle to its growth, overshadowing concerns about greenwashing. “This was somewhat expected given the wave of anti-ESG narratives reported over the past year,” the report noted.
For Bunting, his platform not only provides investors with a way to support environmentally sustainable projects, such as a rooftop solar initiative in Port Hardy, but also offers small businesses crucial financing options when traditional bank loans are unattainable. “There are countless businesses seeking funding that don’t meet bank requirements,” he stated. “This sector is rapidly expanding in Canada, and rather than competing with banks, we are addressing gaps that they leave unfilled.”
