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 — Arts & Culture

• Lobbying activity totalled 149 meetings in June 2026, up from a 12-month average of 130.7.
• The biggest moves were in Broadcast media production and distribution and Motion picture and video industries.
• Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Trans Canada Trail were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in June 2026 Data

Streaming Act Reset Triggers Flurry of Lobbying

The federal government's directive to halt and revise the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's streaming policy in June 2026 came amid intense industry engagement, including direct outreach from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network to the CRTC. Organizations such as the Canadian Media Producers Association quickly mobilized to shape the new framework, with lobbying focused on regulation, tax credits, and maintaining competitive conditions as the government pledged major interim funding for the sector.

📎 Starting Over: Court Filing Confirms the CRTC’s Streamer Contribution ...

May CRTC Ruling Spurs Regulatory and Trade Pushback

The CRTC's May 2026 decision to mandate streaming platforms contribute up to 15% of Canadian revenue sharpened policy debates, with both cultural advocates like the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and international players including the Digital Media Association lobbying Canadian Heritage and Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat in response. Trade controversies and calls for a 'level playing field' intensified as organizations such as the Writers Guild of Canada engaged Privy Council Office, and the Canadian Media Producers Association approached Canadian Heritage, maneuvering during a period of regulatory volatility.

📎 Major streamers must pay 15% of revenues to Canadian content, CRTC says · The Online Streaming Act Bill Comes Due: Why the CRTC’s Latest Ruling ...

CUSMA Review Heightens Lobbying on Cultural Trade Policy

The July 2026 start of formal CUSMA review coincided with escalating debate on Canada's digital cultural regime, as the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and the Canadian Media Producers Association both intensified outreach to Canadian Heritage and Finance Canada around concerns that the Online Streaming Act could trigger trade disputes or force changes in cultural policy. Groups representing both Canadian and foreign interests engaged with Global Affairs Canada and the House of Commons to raise concerns about the implications for cultural policy and trade.

📎 Canada's Online Streaming Act: Background and Issues for Congress · Canada s Online Streaming Act Review Is a Good Start, But More Should ...

Section B: Lobbying Activity by Industry

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

Lobbying activity across this channel totalled 149 meetings in June 2026, up from a 12-month average of 131. The most active industry was Broadcast media production and distribution, while Motion picture and video industries rose above its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Broadcast media production and distribution logged 43 meetings, up from an average of 14, and Motion picture and video industries logged 35 meetings, up from an average of 16.

On the quieter side, Sound recording industries had 5 meetings, down from an average of 12, Newspaper and book publishers had 13 meetings, down from an average of 16, Arts and theatre schools had 1 meetings, down from an average of 2, Performing and visual arts had 12 meetings, down from an average of 17, Grantmaking foundations had 8 meetings, down from an average of 15, and Francophone advocacy organizations had 12 meetings, down from an average of 21.

Section C: 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 B and C shows you whether recent differences are persistent trends or a break from the norm.

Top Industry Residual Trends for 2026-06

↳ Broadcast media production and distribution displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Motion picture and video industries has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Motion picture and video industries displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Sound recording industries has been trending downward in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Sound recording industries displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Performing and visual arts displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

Section D: 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 Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Trans Canada Trail, Motion Picture Association - Canada, and Canadian Association of Broadcasters.

On the quieter side, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada pulled back from its usual pace.

Section E: 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

The busiest industry → institution corridors this month:

↳ Broadcast media production and distribution → Canadian Heritage (PCH): 21 meetings (avg 6, +232%).

↳ Motion picture and video industries → Canadian Heritage (PCH): 13 meetings (avg 7, +84%).

↳ Parks, museums and cultural institutions → House of Commons: 12 meetings (avg 6, +89%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Trans Canada Trail → House of Commons: 12 meetings (avg 1, +860%).

↳ Aboriginal Peoples Television Network → Canadian Heritage (PCH): 8 meetings (avg 2, +284%).

↳ Motion Picture Association - Canada → House of Commons: 7 meetings (avg 1, +1100%).

Section F: 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

The busiest industry → subject corridors this month:

↳ Broadcast media production and distribution → Broadcasting: 46 meetings (avg 14, +229%).

↳ Motion picture and video industries → Broadcasting: 37 meetings (avg 17, +114%).

↳ Motion picture and video industries → Arts and Culture: 33 meetings (avg 16, +100%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Aboriginal Peoples Television Network → Broadcasting: 26 meetings (avg 5, +395%).

↳ Aboriginal Peoples Television Network → Aboriginal Affairs: 26 meetings (avg 5, +395%).

↳ Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation → Arts and Culture: 18 meetings (avg 2, +645%).

Section G: 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

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by sector) this month were Broadcast media production and distribution → Brian MacKay (Canadian Heritage (PCH)), Motion picture and video industries → Joelle Montminy (Canadian Heritage (PCH)) and Broadcast media production and distribution → Mackenzy Metcalfe (Finance Canada (FIN)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Canadian Association of Broadcasters → Brian MacKay (Canadian Heritage (PCH)), Canadian Media Producers Association → Joelle Montminy (Canadian Heritage (PCH)) and Aboriginal Peoples Television Network → Mackenzy Metcalfe (Finance Canada (FIN)).