Statement from OMERS about our Canadian commitment

OMERS is an integral part of Canada’s retirement system, a role we have held with pride since 1962. We invest and administer ~$130 billion (as of December 31, 2023), on behalf of hard-working Ontarians and are dedicated to growing and fiercely defending their retirement savings. We must put members’ interests first and foremost; above those of any self-interested parties with competing agendas.

We can do this while being a huge champion for Canada – for our businesses, our economy, and our people. Roughly 25% of our portfolio ($34 billion) is invested here at home, notwithstanding the fact that Canada represents less than 3% of global GDP. A key advantage to the way OMERS invests is that we provide diversification that retail investors cannot achieve on their own. We give Canadians access to direct private investments in proven world-class platforms in asset classes such as: real estate (Oxford Properties); infrastructure; venture capital; growth equity; private equity and credit, and more.

OMERS is invested in many successful and iconic companies in our home province and country. This includes those harnessing cutting-edge technology, contributing to the fight against climate change, and providing key infrastructure. We are an investor in some of Canada’s most recognizable names in sports, entertainment, healthcare, clean energy, travel, hotels, office buildings, and shopping centres. In addition, approximately 20% of our global portfolio is invested in public equities, and we are a shareholder in many of Canada’s high-quality, publicly traded businesses.

We remain very interested in finding new and exciting investment opportunities in Canada that meet our required risk and return profile. We have communicated to both our provincial and federal governments our willingness to work with them to unlock both an environment, and specific opportunities, that encourage such investments. That cooperative approach is in the best interest of our plan and this nation.

A recent study clearly showed the impact of OMERS investments, operations, and our pension plan payments to our retirees. Annually, OMERS contributes $13.7 billion to Ontario’s GDP, and one in every 11 households in the province is positively impacted by our plan.

The capital we invest and manage is our members’ and theirs alone, and our obligation is to pay their pensions without fail. Any attempt to mandate investments in certain prescribed asset classes or components of our economy would limit our flexibility and make it extremely difficult to continue to deliver on our pension promise to the more than 600,000 Canadians that we serve.