Infrastructure investment will play a key role in OMERS’s aim to add CAD 10bn (USD 7.32bn) in new investments in Canada over the next five years, the pension plan’s infrastructure head told this publication.

The asset class will play a critical role in delivering the Canadian pension fund investor’s growth goals, Executive Vice President and Global Head of OMERS Infrastructure Michael Hill said.

“We believe that Canada offers an increasingly robust environment for long-term infrastructure investment, particularly in assets that support reliable, clean energy and essential services,” Hill said in a statement sent to this publication. “Through OMERS’ portfolio, including investments like [nuclear energy provider] Bruce Power, we see that infrastructure investment can support local communities and economic growth, and we are accelerating our cross-country pursuit of new high-quality infrastructure assets aligned with our long-term investment strategy.”

Blake Hutcheson, the CEO of Toronto-based OMERS, told Canada’s The Globe and Mail that the institution plans to invest at least CAD 10bn in Canada over the next five years. He emphasized infrastructure and real estate as particular targets for investment.

Overall, Hutcheson aims to increase the share of its CAD 145bn portfolio invested in Canada to 25% from 18% today.

Oh Canada!  

Currently, OMERS has three infrastructure assets in Canada: the roughly 6.4 GW Bruce Power nuclear plant in Kincardine, Ontario; Toronto-based electronic property search and registration services firm Teranet; and Toronto-based fiber infrastructure provider Beanfield.

In total, OMERS Infrastructure manages around CAD 40.9bn in capital, investing in energy, digital, and transportation assets in North America, Western Europe, India and Australia. Infrastructure is OMERS’ largest asset class, comprising some 22% of the fund.

OMERS Infrastructure Senior Managing Director and Head of Americas Peter Gray leads the firm’s infrastructure pursuits in Canada.