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 108 meetings in May 2026, roughly in line with its 12-month average of 107.9.
• The biggest moves were in Automobile retail and Motor vehicle parts manufacturing.
• Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA COMPANY were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in May 2026 Data

Federal Policy Shift Fuels EV Lobbying Surge

The unveiling of Canada's new automotive strategy in early 2026 coincides with heightened lobbying by major manufacturers and industry associations such as HONDA CANADA INC. for funding, EV infrastructure, and trade flexibility with federal departments like Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Finance Canada (FIN). The targeted measures—including a 75% EV sales target and integrated trade defence tools—mirror the lobbying focus of organizations like General Motors and HONDA CANADA INC., whose engagement peaked with federal departments during this period.

📎 Canada shifts gears: what the 2026 auto strategy means for manufacturers, EVs and trade · Carney Unveils Canada’s New Automotive Strategy

EV Sales Mandate Repeal Aligns with Dealer Lobbying

Canada's repeal of the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard and restoration of up to $5,000 purchase incentives for Canadian-built EVs closely overlaps with a notable spike in lobbying by the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association and FCA Canada Inc., including direct engagement with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Industry calls for supply-side alignment, infrastructure investment, and consumer incentives have grown more targeted, with stakeholders such as HONDA CANADA INC. and the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada increasing their advocacy, coinciding with this regulatory shift and reflecting high volatility in automotive retailer engagement.

📎 Canada repeals EV Availability Standard, restores $5,000 vehicle ... · A pragmatic shift in Canada’s automotive strategy

CUSMA Review Spurs Trade Policy Lobbying

Lobbying related to North American trade agreements surged in May amid preparations for the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) review and the introduction of new regional tariff response tools, with HONDA CANADA INC. and Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. pressing their case to the House of Commons, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), and Finance Canada (FIN). Stakeholders such as Global Automakers of Canada pressed for protective measures and policy certainty, coinciding with federal moves to safeguard Canadian competitiveness amidst evolving U.S. trade policies and retaliatory tariff threats.

📎 Canada shifts gears: what the 2026 auto strategy means for manufacturers, EVs and trade · Canada's 2026 EV Strategy | BLG

Critical Minerals Security Draws Manufacturing Lobbying

Federal emphasis on domestic critical minerals and supply chain security aligns directly with ongoing industry lobbying for R&D and manufacturing investment support, as seen in recent efforts by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. and HONDA CANADA INC. with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the House of Commons. Automakers and suppliers have increasingly sought incentives and diversification strategies, prompted by concerns over U.S. import policies and the need for resilient parts supply, according to heightened engagement in May.

📎 Carney Unveils Canada’s New Automotive Strategy · Disruption as usual - assets.kpmg.com

Charging Infrastructure Investment Matches Retail Lobbying Demands

A major federal investment in national EV charging infrastructure—a $1.5 billion plan—was launched as industry lobbying from FCA Canada Inc. and Toyota Canada Inc. with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) for practical support and electrification of recreational facilities intensified. The surge in automobile retail lobbying during May coincides with renewed federal commitment to enabling EV adoption through expanded infrastructure, echoing efforts by the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada in meetings with Parks Canada.

📎 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 108 meetings in May 2026, roughly in line with its 12-month average of 108. The most active industry was Motor vehicle manufacturing, while Automobile retail rose above its recent baseline.

Automobile retail logged 18 meetings, up from an average of 7.

Motor vehicle parts manufacturing had 8 meetings, down from an average of 12.

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 2026-05

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

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

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

↳ 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 Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA COMPANY, and HONDA CANADA INC..

On the quieter side, Global Automakers of Canada, and Westport Fuel Systems Canada Inc. 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 → Global Affairs Canada (GAC): 11 meetings (avg 5, +116%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA COMPANY → House of Commons: 7 meetings (avg 2, +236%).

↳ Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 7 meetings (avg 3, +121%).

↳ Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) → Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC): 6 meetings (avg 1, +620%).

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 → Transportation: 29 meetings (avg 42, -31%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ HONDA CANADA INC. → International Trade: 15 meetings (avg 9, +70%).

↳ Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) → Industry: 13 meetings (avg 2, +550%).

↳ Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) → Environment: 13 meetings (avg 3, +403%).

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 → Martin Moen (Global Affairs Canada (GAC)) and Automobile retail → Galen Richardson (Privy Council Office (PCO)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) → Noah Fon (Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)), Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) → Galen Richardson (Privy Council Office (PCO)) and FCA Canada Inc. → David Vickers (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)).