In Canada last year, there were 379 venture capital deals with $1.9 billion invested, and 296 private equity deals with $41.2 billion invested.

In private equity, energy and power, hospitality, and healthcare/life sciences were the top three sectors with $13 billion, $12 billion, $4.3 billion invested respectively. In venture capital, the top three sectors were information and communications technology, life sciences, and clean technology with $1.3 billion, $423 million, and $423 million invested respectively.

The Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA), which compiled these statistics, expects the good times to continue in 2015. A survey of CVCA members shows that 77% believe current economic conditions favour the private capital industry, and that almost two-thirds (61%) of private equity members think lower oil prices will actually improve their business outlook for the year.

"Venture capital and private equity investment remains robust and the feeling amongst our industry is that won't change in 2015," says CVCA’s CEO Mike Woollatt. "Despite the economic uncertainty in Canada, there are opportunities."