Once a month, we partner up with LobbyIQ to update our readers on recent movements in the federal lobbying landscape in Ottawa. We provide separate coverage for each channel, defined by the most relevant industries, organizations, institutions, and subject matters.

📊 Key Takeaways — Agri-Food, 2026-03

• Overall, lobbying across this channel's industries totalled 174 meetings in March 2026, compared to a 12-month average of 175 (-1%). This is roughly in line with historical patterns.
• The organizations with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include: CANADIAN PORK COUNCIL, Fertilizer Canada, Nutrien Ltd..
• The organizations with the most notable decreases include: Canola Council of Canada, Canadian Canola Growers Association.
• Guy Gallant at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) was the most lobbied individual by crop producers.

📰 Real-World Implications — Agri-Food, 2026-03

Pork Sector Surges Lobbying for Immigration Reform Amid Labour Shortages

The unprecedented spike in lobbying by the Canadian Pork Council, especially around immigration, reflects industry alarm over tightened federal immigration policies and reforms to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. This push comes as pork producers face chronic labour shortages and are urging Ottawa to create a dedicated immigration pathway for agriculture workers to maintain production capacity and export competitiveness.

📎 Pork groups worry on labour hit of tightened immigration · Canadian Organizations Amplify Pork Sector Priorities · What Canada’s January 2026 Jobs Report Means for Immigration Policy

Agricultural Science and Fertilizer Firms Step Up Lobbying on Trade and Resource Access

The sharp increase in lobbying by fertilizer and agri-science firms such as Fertilizer Canada and Nutrien signals intensified advocacy for international trade access and resource security. Recent trade tensions, fertilizer export restrictions by major global suppliers, and government attention to Canada's role in global food security have raised the stakes for Canadian agricultural input suppliers.

📎 Canada's fertilizer sector urges action on global food crisis · Fertilizer Canada to Parliament: Secure Canada's Role in Global Agriculture · Nutrien aims to expand production amid shifting global fertilizer markets

Volatile Crop Sector Lobbying Tied to Market Uncertainty and Policy Pause

The marked drop and volatility in crop production lobbying is likely linked to market uncertainty and policy inertia following a year of trade disruptions and shifting government priorities. Crop groups like the Canola Council are reducing advocacy as Canada navigates new barriers with key trade partners and waits for forthcoming federal policy updates impacting agri-export strategies.

📎 Canada’s crop groups cautious as global market uncertainty persists · Canola industry waits for clarity on trade and regulatory changes · Public Policy - Ontario Pork (see crop & trade commentary)

Animal Health and Trade Risks Drive Pork Advocacy Spike

The pork lobby's activity, including a unified push by the Canadian Pork Council, signals rising industry concern over disease threats, such as African swine fever (ASF), and the need for robust trade recovery frameworks. Recent ASF scares and ongoing U.S. trade policy shifts have emphasized the vulnerability of Canadian red meat exports and the need for government action.

📎 Canadian meat groups seek to establish ASF trade recovery program · Canadian red meat industry shows strength in unity

Lobbying Surges in Parliament Reflect Policy Windows on Agri-Food Issues

The surge in meetings between agri-food sectors and the House of Commons in March 2026 matches periods when Parliament is receptive to pre-budget submissions and agricultural policy discussions. Industry groups are capitalizing on critical timing to influence decisions on labour, trade, and resource allocation in the lead-up to major policy announcements.

📎 Canadian Parliament opens doors to agrifood budget lobbying · 2026 federal budget: What’s at stake for agriculture

Section A: Lobbying Activity by Industry

This section compares, by NAICS industry, the lobbying activity in Ottawa last month to its historical average.

Overall, lobbying across this channel's industries totalled 174 meetings in March 2026, compared to a 12-month average of 175 (-1%). This represents a roughly in line.

Crop production saw a notable decline in lobbying activity — 48 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 84.2 (-43%).

Pork and other animal production experienced a significant surge in lobbying activity — 29 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 3 (+867%).

Poultry and egg production saw a notable decline in lobbying activity — 13 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 20.2 (-36%).

↳ Compared to the same month in prior years (avg 4.7), this is a significant surge (+179%).

Agricultural science and products experienced a significant surge in lobbying activity — 55 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 21.1 (+161%).

Dairy cattle and milk production saw a significant decline in lobbying activity — 8 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 24 (-67%).

Section B: Lobbying by Industry for the Past Year

To contextualize, we show each industry's lobbying activity over the past 12 months. The combined view from Section A and B shows you whether recent differences are persistent trends or a break from the norm.

Top Industry Residual Trends for 2026-03

Crop production ended March 2026 with a residual of -39.6, well below its expected trend.

↳ Crop production has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Crop production displayed high volatility in its lobbying pattern, suggesting irregular or event-driven activity.

Agricultural science and products ended March 2026 with a residual of +28.1, well above its expected trend.

↳ Agricultural science and products has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Agricultural science and products displayed high volatility in its lobbying pattern, suggesting irregular or event-driven activity.

Dairy cattle and milk production ended March 2026 with a residual of -21.4, well below its expected trend.

↳ Dairy cattle and milk production has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Dairy cattle and milk production displayed high volatility in its lobbying pattern, suggesting irregular or event-driven activity.

Pork and other animal production ended March 2026 with a residual of +20.3, well above its expected trend.

↳ Pork and other animal production has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Pork and other animal production displayed high volatility in its lobbying pattern, suggesting irregular or event-driven activity.

↳ Cattle ranching and farming has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Cattle ranching and farming displayed high volatility in its lobbying pattern, suggesting irregular or event-driven activity.

Section C: Lobbying Activity by Organization

In this section, we see the organizations with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month, defined by either unusually high or unusually low lobbying activity.

The organizations with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include: CANADIAN PORK COUNCIL, Fertilizer Canada, Nutrien Ltd..

↳ CANADIAN PORK COUNCIL: 29 meetings vs. 2.7 average (+988%).

↳ Fertilizer Canada: 29 meetings vs. 8.4 average (+245%).

↳ Nutrien Ltd.: 20 meetings vs. 6.4 average (+212%).

The organizations with the most notable decreases include: Canola Council of Canada, Canadian Canola Growers Association.

↳ Canola Council of Canada: 3 meetings vs. 18.8 average (-84%).

↳ Canadian Canola Growers Association: 3 meetings vs. 10.8 average (-72%).

Section D: Lobbying of Government Institutions in the Past Month

Every time an organization lobbies, there is a government official representing a government institution at the other side of the table. This section shows the industry-institutions pairs with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month, defined by either unusually high or unusually low lobbying activity. Below that, we show the corresponding organization-institution pairs.

Industries → Government Institutions

Organizations → Government Institutions

Notable industry → institution pairs this month:

↳ Agricultural science and pr... → House of Commons: 27 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 6.9, +290%).

↳ Pork and other animal produ... → House of Commons: 22 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 2, +1000%).

↳ Crop production → Agriculture and Agri-Food C...: 16 meetings (notable decline vs. avg 25.1, -36%).

Notable organization → institution pairs this month:

↳ CANADIAN PORK COUNCIL → House of Commons: 22 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 2, +1000%).

↳ Fertilizer Canada → House of Commons: 18 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 3.7, +391%).

↳ Canadian Cattle Association → House of Commons: 11 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 5.6, +97%).

Section E: Industry and Organization Lobbying by Subject in the Past Month

All lobbying activity is tagged with a "subject matter". This section shows the industry-subject pairs with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month, defined by either unusually high or unusually low lobbying activity, and below it the organization-subject pairs with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month.

Industries → Subjects

Organizations → Subjects

Notable industry → subject pairs this month:

↳ Agricultural science and pr... → International Trade: 52 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 16.4, +217%).

↳ Crop production → Agriculture: 48 meetings (notable decline vs. avg 82.2, -42%).

↳ Agricultural science and pr... → Agriculture: 45 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 13.2, +242%).

Notable organization → subject pairs this month:

↳ CANADIAN PORK COUNCIL → Immigration: 29 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 2.6, +1023%).

↳ Fertilizer Canada → Agriculture: 29 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 8.3, +248%).

↳ CANADIAN PORK COUNCIL → Federal-Provincial Relations: 29 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 2.6, +1023%).

Section F: Last Month's Most Lobbied Politicians and Civil Servants

This section presents a list of the politicians and civil servants who took the most meetings with key industry players last month.

Most Lobbied Individuals by Sector

Most Lobbied Individuals by Organization

Guy Gallant at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) was the most lobbied individual by crop producers.