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 99 meetings in September 2026, down from a 12-month average of 108.2.
• The most notable shift was in Motor vehicle parts manufacturing.
• Bombardier Recreational Products INC., Toyota Canada Inc. were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in September 2026 Data

Federal Strategy Spurs EV Lobbying, Incentives Roll Out

The unveiling of Canada's new automotive strategy in early 2026, emphasizing domestic EV manufacturing and backed by a $3 billion fund and extensive incentives, coincides with a measurable surge in lobbying from Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., Toyota Canada Inc., and HONDA CANADA INC. around electric vehicle competitiveness, skills development, and trade, particularly in meetings with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Regulatory consultations surrounding the EV affordability program and charging infrastructure have drawn heightened engagement from major auto manufacturers and parts suppliers, aligning with the sector’s increased outreach to government offices in September.

📎 Canada's 2026 EV Strategy | BLG · Canada shifts gears: what the 2026 auto strategy means for ...

Trade Tensions Fuel Lobbying on CUSMA and Tariffs

September 2026 saw intensified lobbying on international trade issues as ongoing tariff threats from the U.S. and the upcoming CUSMA review heightened anxiety in the automotive sector, with HONDA CANADA INC. and Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. actively engaging Finance Canada (FIN), the House of Commons, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) to communicate concerns. This period was marked by industry outreach to high-level government corridors, as GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA COMPANY and FCA Canada Inc. sought assurances for supply chain stability and protections for North America's integrated auto market—moves that coincide with sector calls for resilience and competitive safeguards in the face of trade uncertainty.

📎 Is Canada’s auto industry heading ‘down under’? · STRENGTHENING THE COMPETITIVENESS AND RESILIENCY OF CANADA'S AUTOMOTIVE ...

Flexible GHG Standards Prompt Technical Compliance Lobbying

Lobbying focused on regulatory standards and technical access increased following the government's shift to a more flexible, technology-neutral greenhouse gas standard for automakers covering model years 2027–2032, with organisations such as HONDA CANADA INC., Rivian Automotive, LLC, Tesla Canada, and Westport Fuel Systems Canada Inc. engaging Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). This policy change, which replaced a prior EV-only mandate, has triggered stakeholder engagement on compliance, connected vehicle data sharing (CASIS), with Automotive Industries Association of Canada raising secure industry access concerns at both Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Finance Canada (FIN), and incentives for advanced manufacturing—a pattern matching industry outreach to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) observed in September.

📎 Canada shifts gears: what the 2026 auto strategy means for ... · Canada's 2026 EV Strategy | BLG

Automotive Industry Pushes for Skills Training Amid Tech Transition

With automakers tackling growing technical complexity—from electrification to connectivity—industry lobbying by organizations such as the Automotive Industries Association of Canada and FCA Canada Inc. for expanded apprenticeship and workforce upskilling ramped up in tandem with new federal funding programs. The government’s strategy to support labor transitions and advanced tech trades reflects a pattern of lobbying targeting the Strategic Innovation Fund and bilateral partnerships with interlocutors like Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), particularly as OEMs and sector associations such as the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association seek to equip workers for emerging industry demands.

📎 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 99 meetings in September 2026, down from a 12-month average of 108. The most active industry was Motor vehicle manufacturing, while Automobile retail fell below its recent baseline.

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 2026-09

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

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

↳ Motor vehicle parts 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 Bombardier Recreational Products INC., Toyota Canada Inc., and Pacific Manufacturing Association of Canada (PMAC).

On the quieter side, GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA COMPANY, and HONDA 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 → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 33 meetings (avg 27, +21%).

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing → Privy Council Office (PCO): 15 meetings (avg 9, +67%).

↳ Motor vehicle manufacturing → Prime Minister's Office (PMO): 13 meetings (avg 6, +114%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Toyota Canada Inc. → Privy Council Office (PCO): 7 meetings (avg 2, +223%).

↳ Toyota Canada Inc. → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 6 meetings (avg 2, +227%).

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 → International Trade with 64 meetings.

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Toyota Canada Inc. → Industry: 20 meetings (avg 13, +49%).

↳ Toyota Canada Inc. → International Trade: 19 meetings (avg 11, +70%).

↳ Bombardier Recreational Products INC. → Internal Trade: 13 meetings (avg 5, +169%).

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 → Charles Vincent (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Motor vehicle manufacturing → Mélanie Joly (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Toyota Canada Inc. → Nicholas Harper (Privy Council Office (PCO)), FCA Canada Inc. → Yasmin Atassi (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and FCA Canada Inc. → David McFarlane (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)).