Unlocking hundreds of billions of dollars held in the giant Canadian retirement savings sector is a key objective of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's lightning visit to Ottawa on Sunday and Monday in the second leg of his three-country mission. But emphasising the two countries' caution on climate change policy against a newly assertive US will also feature.

The bilateral visit comes despite the leaders of both countries having been together just 24 hours before in France.

Met: Francois Hollande and Tony Abbott. Credit:Andrew Meares

Mr Abbott believes Canadian superannuation funds such as the major public sector portfolios that together control more than $400 billion can be attracted to invest in new ports, road and rail projects, and other public infrastructure plans in Australia, some of which are stalled because of a lack of adequate capital.

The Prime Minister flew to Ottawa from France on Sunday. In France, his program had been dominated by the 70th anniversary commemorations of the allied D-Day campaign and the 100th anniversary of the First World War and, particularly, its costly Western Front battles, which Mr Abbott believes rank as Australia's greatest military contribution.