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, 2026-03

• Overall, lobbying across this channel's industries totalled 92 meetings in March 2026, compared to a 12-month average of 91.3 (+1%). This represents a roughly in line.
• The organizations with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include: BMW Canada Inc., FCA Canada Inc., Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA).
• The organizations with the most notable decreases include: Global Automakers of Canada.
• The individual most lobbied by Motor vehicle manufacturers was Charles Vincent at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).

📰 Real-World Implications — Automotive, 2026-03

Surge in Automaker Lobbying Tied to Federal Automotive Strategy Rollout

The sharp rise in lobbying activity by major automakers (FCA Canada, BMW Canada, CADA) reflects industry engagement with the federal government's new automotive strategy, which prioritizes next-generation vehicle manufacturing, critical minerals for batteries, and new tax incentives. Companies are intensively lobbying to shape the implementation details—especially around electrification targets, investment tax credits, and GHG emission standards, all of which bear heavily on their production and investment decisions.

📎 Prime Minister Carney unveils Canada's new automotive strategy to protect jobs and position our country as a global leader in next-generation vehicle manufacturing · A pivotal couple of weeks - Canadian Auto Dealer

Retailer Lobby Spike Signals Focus on Consumer Incentives and ZEV Mandate Changes

The recent spike in lobbying from automobile retailers likely reflects the automotive sector's push to influence implementation of the new Electric Vehicle Affordability Program and the federal government’s decision to pause and review the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. Industry groups are working to secure favorable eligibility criteria and funding flows, as these directly impact dealer sales and the broader transition to electric vehicles.

📎 Current Automotive Market Conditions in Canada — Updated March 2026 · Driveline Newsletter April 2026 - mdaalberta.com

Tariff Angst and US Relations Drive Manufacturer Lobbying

Automakers' lobbying surges towards Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Global Affairs Canada reflect growing uncertainty around US-Canada auto trade relations, including CUSMA review and tariff remission policy. Companies are pressing for government measures to ensure tariff-free access to the US market and mitigate the impact of US tariffs or disruptive trade actions.

📎 Top Canadian auto stories for the week of March 23 - Automotive News · Pierre Poilievre Unveils Conservative Plan for Auto Industry – March 15, 2026 - Headline Politics

Volatility Indicates Event-Driven Policy Lobbying

Patterns of irregular and event-driven lobbying, especially by motor vehicle manufacturers and retailers, indicate that the industry is responding rapidly to policy shocks—such as tariff adjustments for Chinese imports, shifting US standards, or new federal funding announcements. Such reactive engagement highlights the sector's need to quickly adapt to a highly uncertain regulatory and trade environment.

📎 A pivotal couple of weeks - Canadian Auto Dealer · Disruption as usual: Canada’s automotive outlook in an era of changing lanes and uncertain roads

Taxation and Investment Incentives Under Policy Microscope

The surge in tax- and finance-focused lobbying, notably by FCA Canada, aligns with the automotive sector's efforts to ensure that new federal tax credits, cost allowances, and investment incentives are implemented in a way that maximizes industry competitiveness. With Budget 2025’s 'Productivity Super-Deduction' making Canada’s auto investment environment more attractive, firms are racing to lock in the best possible tax treatment for new manufacturing commitments.

📎 Prime Minister Carney unveils Canada's new automotive strategy to protect jobs and position our country as a global leader in next-generation vehicle manufacturing

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 92 meetings in March 2026, compared to a 12-month average of 91.3 (+1%). This represents a roughly in line.

Automobile retail experienced a notable increase in lobbying activity — 8 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 5.8 (+37%).

↳ Compared to the same month in prior years (avg 4.3), this is a significant surge (+85%).

Motor vehicle parts manufacturing saw a notable decline in lobbying activity — 7 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 9.8 (-28%).

↳ Compared to the same month in prior years (avg 5.3), this is a notable increase (+31%).

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

Motor vehicle manufacturing ended March 2026 with a residual of +20.8, well above its expected trend.

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing displayed high volatility in its lobbying pattern, suggesting irregular or event-driven activity.

↳ Motor vehicle parts manufacturing has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Motor vehicle parts manufacturing displayed high volatility in its lobbying pattern, suggesting irregular or event-driven activity.

↳ Automobile retail has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Automobile retail 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: BMW Canada Inc., FCA Canada Inc., Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA).

↳ BMW Canada Inc.: 7 meetings vs. 0.8 average (+833%).

↳ FCA Canada Inc.: 12 meetings vs. 6.2 average (+95%).

↳ Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA): 8 meetings vs. 3.9 average (+104%).

The organizations with the most notable decreases include: Global Automakers of Canada.

↳ Global Automakers of Canada: no meetings this month (average: 5.9).

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:

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing → Innovation, Science and Eco...: 28 meetings (notable increase vs. avg 22.8, +23%).

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing → Transport Canada (TC): 12 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 6.5, +85%).

Notable organization → institution pairs this month:

↳ FCA Canada Inc. → Innovation, Science and Eco...: 8 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 4.2, +92%).

↳ Ford Motor Company of Canad... → Global Affairs Canada (GAC): 4 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 1, +300%).

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

The most active industry → subject pair was Motor vehicle manufacturing → Industry with 54 meetings.

Notable organization → subject pairs this month:

↳ FCA Canada Inc. → Industry: 12 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 5.2, +132%).

↳ FCA Canada Inc. → Taxation and Finance: 11 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 2.5, +340%).

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

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

The individual most lobbied by Motor vehicle manufacturers was Charles Vincent at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).