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 — Automotive

• Lobbying activity totalled 96 meetings in March 2026, up from a 12-month average of 90.8.
• The biggest moves were in Motor vehicle parts manufacturing and Automobile retail.
• BMW Canada Inc., FCA Canada Inc. were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in March 2026 Data

Government Launches Major Auto Strategy with Investment Incentives

Canada’s new auto sector strategy announced in February 2026 includes hefty financial awards, targeted tax credits, and new partnerships for AI and battery technology. This coincides with surges in lobbying activity from Tesla Canada, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., and HONDA CANADA INC., focused on securing investment in EV supply chains, harmonizing regulations, and maintaining a competitive environment for manufacturers. The plan reflects industry push on funding programs and policy clarity, especially with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Transport Canada.

📎 Prime Minister Carney launches new strategy to transform Canada's auto ...

EV Sales Mandate Dropped in Favor of Rebates and Stricter GHG Standards

Prime Minister Carney’s shift from the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) sales mandate to stronger greenhouse gas regulations and new EV rebates provides greater flexibility for automakers, aligning with recent industry lobbying by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., Tesla Canada, and HONDA CANADA INC. over ZEV targets and harmonization with U.S. rules at the House of Commons and Transport Canada. The new policies are projected to boost EV sales while allowing manufacturers to adapt, reflecting direct industry efforts with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Transport Canada to influence GHG reduction rules and consumer incentives.

📎 Carney shakes up Canada's auto industry, replacing EV sales mandate ... · Canada revises its automotive strategy with a view of ... - Dentons

Tariff Remission Proposals Amid US Trade Tensions

Canadian government efforts to reform auto tariff remission programs come amid rising uncertainty from new U.S. tariffs and ongoing USMCA renegotiations, both cited frequently in recent lobbying by organisations such as HONDA CANADA INC. and the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association in meetings with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the House of Commons. Industry groups including Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. have pressed for stable cross-border trade and policy alignment, reflecting the critical stakes in maintaining North America’s integrated automotive supply chains during March 2026.

📎 Top Canadian auto stories for the week of March 23 - Automotive News · MARCH 2026 CANADA-U.S. THE INTEGRATED NORTH TRADE AND AMERICAN AUTO ...

Retail Lobbying Rises as EV Incentives and Rate Holds Affect Market

Automobile retail lobbying jumped above baseline in March 2026 as dealers such as Tesla Canada, HONDA CANADA INC., and Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. responded to steady interest rates, inflation, and price volatility from tariffs. The rollout of the Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP) and review of ZEV mandates prompted industry push for consumer incentives and affordable finance options, with organisations including Tesla Canada and HONDA CANADA INC. engaging with government interlocutors at Transport Canada and the House of Commons, highlighting event-driven engagement in policy reform efforts.

📎 Current Automotive Market Conditions in Canada — Updated March 2026

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 96 meetings in March 2026, up from a 12-month average of 91. The most active industry was Motor vehicle manufacturing, while Automobile retail rose above its recent baseline.

Automobile retail logged 8 meetings, up from an average of 6.

Motor vehicle parts manufacturing had 7 meetings, down from an average of 10.

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 2026-03

Motor vehicle manufacturing saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in March 2026.

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Automobile retail displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Motor vehicle parts manufacturing has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Motor vehicle parts manufacturing 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 BMW Canada Inc., FCA Canada Inc., Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), and Electric Mobility Canada.

On the quieter side, Global Automakers of 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:

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 32 meetings (avg 22, +42%).

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing → Transport Canada (TC): 12 meetings (avg 6, +89%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ FCA Canada Inc. → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 8 meetings (avg 4, +92%).

↳ Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) → House of Commons: 4 meetings (avg 2, +78%).

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 most active industry → subject pair was Motor vehicle manufacturing → Industry with 55 meetings.

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ FCA Canada Inc. → Industry: 12 meetings (avg 5, +132%).

↳ FCA Canada Inc. → Taxation and Finance: 11 meetings (avg 2, +340%).

↳ HONDA CANADA INC. → Industry: 10 meetings (avg 8, +25%).

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 Motor vehicle manufacturing → Yasmin Atassi (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Motor vehicle manufacturing → Jennifer McLean (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Motor vehicle manufacturing → Tim Krupa (Prime Minister's Office (PMO)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were FCA Canada Inc. → Jennifer McLean (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), BMW Canada Inc. → Alexander MacKenzie (House of Commons) and Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. → Adam Scott (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)).