Annesley Wallace, who’s led the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan since April, said boosting the country’s economy and global competitiveness is a good reason to invest more in Canada. (The Logic)

Talking point: Pension funds have faced mounting pressure to back more Canadian assets and help grow the economy. Leaders of the Maple 8 have been coming around to the idea of investing more at home, if it fits with their mandates to maximize returns for retirees. Wallace’s case for domestic investing goes beyond just returns to include broader advantages, like building a stronger economy and attracting more outside investors. Still, the deals have to make sense for the fund, she said. Wallace said the federal government’s plan to support major infrastructure projects makes investing domestically more enticing. “Historically,” she said, “we haven’t seen as much of those opportunities at the national level as we would have liked.” – Catherine