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 105 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 88.3.
• The biggest moves were in Motor vehicle parts manufacturing and Automobile retail.
• Automotive Industries Association of Canada, Westport Fuel Systems Canada Inc. were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in February 2026 Data

Canada Overhauls National Auto Policy Amid Industry Lobbying Surge

The federal government’s major new automotive strategy, rolled out in February 2026, replaced the phased 100% EV sales mandate with flexible incentives and stricter, technology-neutral emissions standards. This policy shift coincided with a significant increase in lobbying, as Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., Tesla Canada, and Global Automakers of Canada engaged with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the House of Commons to shape emerging rules, unlock new funds for manufacturing, and influence support for Canadian-made vehicles. The initiative has provided the sector with decisive signals for re-aligning product plans and investment strategies.

📎 Canada repeals EV Availability Standard, restores $5,000 vehicle ...

EV Mandate Dropped in Favor of Flexible Emission Rules

February saw the government repeal the Zero Emission Vehicle sales mandate, opting instead for more flexible but ambitious emission standards, a move that closely mirrors industry lobbying by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., Global Automakers of Canada, and Tesla Canada for technology-neutral regulations in meetings with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Transport Canada. Auto and parts manufacturers quickly ramped up outreach to shape compliance flexibility and harmonize Canadian rules with U.S. and global practices. This coincided with high-level discussions on plug-in hybrids, traditional engines, and expanded access to incentives.

📎 Carney shakes up Canada's auto industry, replacing EV sales mandate ... · Canada's 2026 EV Strategy | BLG

Trade Uncertainty Spurs Auto Sector Lobbying Efforts

With the 2026 USMCA review looming and talk of new U.S. tariffs, Canadian automotive stakeholders such as HONDA CANADA INC., Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., and Tesla Canada sharply increased advocacy on trade-related issues, holding meetings with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Finance Canada. Lobbying groups focused on safeguarding supply chains, preserving favorable market access, and positioning Canada competitively as officials on both sides of the border signaled possible renegotiations on rules of origin and tariffs affecting vehicles and parts. This trade environment has become a key lobbying flashpoint for automakers and component suppliers.

📎 Automotive News Canada - Automotive News · The New Normal: 2026 Canadian Automotive Outlook - TD

Data Access and Right to Repair Fuel Policy Push

Debate around vehicle data access and the right to repair has intensified alongside lobbying activity from the Automotive Industries Association of Canada, which held meetings with Transport Canada, the Senate of Canada, and the House of Commons, as well as parts manufacturers. Efforts this month focused on securing industry-wide standards for data sharing and repair access, ensuring manufacturers and independent repairers can compete fairly and support consumer choice, a discussion also advanced in meetings between the Automotive Industries Association of Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. These issues remain central to ongoing government deliberations about Canada’s automotive policy framework.

📎 AIA Canada Members Lobby Parliament for Federal Right to Repair ...

Parts Manufacturers Ramp Up Meetings in Response to Policy Changes

Motor vehicle parts makers and related groups, including Global Automakers of Canada and HONDA CANADA INC., logged a notable increase in meetings with Parliament and regulatory agencies such as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) in February, in line with both event-driven and sustained lobbying patterns. This activity echoes recent announcements of federal support for domestic manufacturing and supply chain resilience, as well as a renewed emphasis on trade alignment and incentives for Canadian-made vehicles. The lobbying uptick coincides with broader volatility in global automotive markets.

📎 Canada's 2026 EV Strategy | BLG

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 105 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 88. The most active industry was Motor vehicle manufacturing, while Motor vehicle parts manufacturing rose above its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Automobile retail logged 8 meetings, up from an average of 6, and Motor vehicle parts manufacturing logged 17 meetings, up 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 2026-02

↳ 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.

↳ 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.

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 Automotive Industries Association of Canada, Westport Fuel Systems Canada Inc., and FCA Canada Inc..

On the quieter side, Toyota Canada Inc., and GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA COMPANY 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 → House of Commons: 33 meetings (avg 19, +74%).

↳ Automobile retail → House of Commons: 8 meetings (avg 3, +182%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Automotive Industries Association of Canada → House of Commons: 16 meetings (avg 3, +500%).

↳ FCA Canada Inc. → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 6 meetings (avg 4, +67%).

↳ Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association → House of Commons: 6 meetings (avg 3, +85%).

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 → Industry: 72 meetings (avg 50, +44%).

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing → International Trade: 33 meetings (avg 50, -34%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Automotive Industries Association of Canada → Industry: 24 meetings (avg 4, +586%).

↳ Automotive Industries Association of Canada → Privacy and Access to Information: 24 meetings (avg 4, +586%).

↳ Westport Fuel Systems Canada Inc. → Economic Development: 11 meetings (avg 4, +164%).

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 → Rhonda Kirkland (House of Commons) and Motor vehicle manufacturing → Chris Lewis (House of Commons).

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)), Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association → Rhonda Kirkland (House of Commons) and FCA Canada Inc. → Benoit Tessier (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)).