Canadian proxy contests reaching a vote hit a five-year high, campaign volume declined, but the fights that remained went further and hit harder, and boards with real shareholder relationships came out on top.
Download Kingsdale Advisors' most comprehensive look at what's reshaping Canadian and U.S. boardrooms. Covering July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, the report shows a shareholder landscape that's more fragmented and harder to predict, with more of the voting decision moving in-house with investors themselves.
The in-depth research also examines CEO succession at S&P/TSX Composite companies overthe past three years, and what the difference between planned and reactive transitions reveals about board preparedness.
- Contests reaching a vote hit a five-year high, up 39% year over year.
- Large-cap activist targets more than doubled, from 4% to 9%.
- M&A activism drove 40% of campaigns, above the five-year average.
- Say-on-Pay support reached a five-year high of 93.4%.
- Governance proposals more than doubled to 56.
Latest Insights
Download Kingsdale Advisors 2026 Proxy Season Review
The 2026 proxy season proved that preparation matters more than ever. Canadian contests reaching a vote hit a five-year high, campaign volume declined, but the fights that remained went further and hit harder, and boards with real shareholder relationships came out on top.
Modernizing Take-Over Bid Rules Without Losing Market Flexibility
The Canadian Securities Administrators closed a 90-day consultation period earlier this month on proposed amendments to Canada’s issuer bid, take-over bid and beneficial ownership reporting regimes. Investors need decision-useful information, while market participants need the flexibility to engage, adapt and execute effectively.
Upcoming Event | Governance on the Move: Shareholder Engagement in a New Era
On September 23, 2026, Kingsdale Advisors is hosting an in-person event in Toronto, where senior leaders from the Ontario Securities Commission, Glass Lewis, and Canadian Coalition for Good Governance will share latest industry insights. Register your interest to attend.
When The Stakes Are Highest, Business Leaders Choose Kingsdale
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* Source: Bloomberg Global Shareholder Activism League Tables FY2025 and LSEG Global Shareholder Activism Review FY2025.
#2025 and 2026 indicate proxy seasons: July 2024 to June 2026.