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 61 meetings in July 2026, down from a 12-month average of 107.3.
• The biggest moves were in Motor vehicle manufacturing and Automobile retail.
• Tesla Canada, Rivian Automotive, LLC were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in July 2026 Data

Ottawa Unveils Sweeping Auto Sector Strategy

In early 2026, the federal government announced an ambitious strategy to modernize Canada's automotive landscape, prioritizing electric and autonomous vehicle technologies. This coincides with recent lobbying from Tesla Canada, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., and the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association in meetings with Transport Canada and Finance Canada, which focused on connected vehicle access and regulatory frameworks, suggesting industry actors were positioning themselves ahead of the new policy environment.

📎 Carney shakes up Canada's auto industry, replacing EV sales mandate ... · Canada shifts gears: what the 2026 auto strategy means for ...

Canada Drops ZEV Mandate, Adopts GHG-Focused Regulation

In August 2026, Canada began repealing its Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) sales quotas in favor of a more flexible, technology-neutral greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions regime. This regulatory pivot closely mirrors industry lobbying from FCA Canada Inc., Global Automakers of Canada, and the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, particularly during meetings with Transport Canada, on GHG standards and the national zero-emissions vehicle strategy, indicating a direct response to stakeholder input.

📎 Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 160, Number 33: Regulations Amending the ... · Canada shifts gears: what the 2026 auto strategy means for ...

Major Boost to EV Incentives and Charging Infrastructure

February 2026 saw new federal spending programs introduce generous EV purchase incentives and significant investment in public charging stations, following discussions involving Rivian Automotive, LLC and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). These moves, which include policies favoring domestically produced vehicles, coincide with lobbying by the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association and meetings with the Privy Council Office (PCO) on creating a level playing field and concerns over fair market access as the sector adapts to evolving trade frameworks.

📎 Electric Mobility Canada’s statement on the federal auto strategy ... · Canada's 2026 EV Strategy | BLG

Labour Negotiations Rise amid Industry Restructuring

Unifor's high-profile negotiations with major automakers and renewed concerns over plant closures in mid-2026 highlight mounting labor market uncertainty. These developments align with recent lobbying by the Automotive Industries Association of Canada and Rivian Automotive, LLC at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) on upskilling, apprenticeships, and maintaining manufacturing competitiveness as automation and electrification reshape the workforce.

📎 News & Bargaining Updates - Unifor Auto Talks 2026

Trade and Tariff Policy Realignment Impacts Auto Sector

Canada's auto industry faces shifting trade dynamics, including tariff mitigation and new international partnerships, as North American agreements are reviewed—a process involving organisations such as HONDA CANADA INC. and Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. in discussions with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC). These policy trends coincide with recent lobbying on the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), reciprocal tariffs, and trade diversification—reflecting industry concerns about competitiveness in a volatile global environment.

📎 Canada shifts gears: what the 2026 auto strategy means for ...

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 61 meetings in July 2026, down from a 12-month average of 107. The most active industry was Motor vehicle manufacturing, while Motor vehicle parts manufacturing fell below its recent baseline.

On the quieter side, Automobile retail had no lobbying meetings this month, down from an average of 9, Motor vehicle manufacturing had 55 meetings, down from an average of 88, and Motor vehicle parts manufacturing had 6 meetings, down from an average of 11.

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 2026-07

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing has been trending downward in lobbying over the past year.

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

↳ Motor vehicle parts manufacturing has been trending downward 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 Tesla Canada, and Rivian Automotive, LLC.

On the quieter side, Toyota Canada Inc., HONDA CANADA INC., and Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association all pulled back from their 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 → Transport Canada (TC): 15 meetings (avg 8, +88%).

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 14 meetings (avg 25, -44%).

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing → Global Affairs Canada (GAC): 9 meetings (avg 7, +24%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Tesla Canada → Transport Canada (TC): 7 meetings (avg 1, +425%).

↳ Rivian Automotive, LLC → House of Commons: 4 meetings (avg 0, +1100%).

↳ Westport Fuel Systems Canada Inc. → Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan): 3 meetings (avg 1, +350%).

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:

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing → International Trade: 34 meetings (avg 57, -40%).

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing → Industry: 29 meetings (avg 60, -52%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Tesla Canada → Transportation: 13 meetings (avg 5, +160%).

↳ Tesla Canada → Taxation and Finance: 9 meetings (avg 2, +350%).

↳ Tesla Canada → International Trade: 8 meetings (avg 4, +118%).

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 → Jed Graham (Transport Canada (TC)), Motor vehicle manufacturing → Martin Moen (Global Affairs Canada (GAC)) and Motor vehicle manufacturing → Janice Charette (Privy Council Office (PCO)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Tesla Canada → Michael Vandergrift (Transport Canada (TC)), Tesla Canada → Jed Graham (Transport Canada (TC)) and Electric Mobility Canada → Joe Homsy (Transport Canada (TC)).