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 — Construction

• Lobbying activity totalled 120 meetings in June 2026, down from a 12-month average of 146.
• The biggest moves were in Cement, concrete and building materials manufacturing and Engineering, architectural and related services.
• BC Real Estate Association, Canadian Home Builders' Association were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in June 2026 Data

Labour Shortages Continue to Reshape Construction Advocacy

Ongoing retirements and the need for nearly 380,000 new workers by 2034 highlight a growing labour squeeze in the construction sector. This demographic reality coincides with increased lobbying by the Canadian Construction Association at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Canadian Home Builders' Association with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), and Merit Contractors Association of Canada, as industry voices call for more federal support and innovative recruitment strategies.

📎 LMI 2026-2035 - BuildForce Canada

Regional Variation in Housing Starts Fuels Targeted Advocacy

Forecasts project a slowdown in housing starts through 2028, shaped by economic uncertainty and supply chain issues, yet some provinces like the Prairies and Quebec are maintaining activity levels. These diverging market conditions coincide with spiking lobbying from groups such as the Canadian Home Builders’ Association in meetings with Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada and the Privy Council Office, as well as the Canadian Construction Association engaging with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, aiming to influence emerging federal housing strategies amid a patchwork of regional realities.

📎 Housing starts momentum to slow as economic uncertainty weighs on demand

Build Canada Homes Launch Triggers Policy Influence Efforts

The recent establishment of Build Canada Homes, a new agency tasked with ramping up affordable and resilient housing construction, coincides with a high volume of lobbying focused on program design from 2B Developments Consultants & Associates Inc., CUBE Building Systems, and Catalyst Community Development, engaging with Finance Canada (FIN) and the House of Commons. Industry stakeholders appear intent on shaping eligibility criteria and ensuring access to new streams of financing as the agency’s operational framework is set.

📎 Build Canada Homes: Proposals for Success and Accountability

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 120 meetings in June 2026, down from a 12-month average of 146. The most active industry was Construction (buildings), while Cement, concrete and building materials manufacturing fell below its recent baseline.

Specialty trade contractors logged 11 meetings, up from an average of 5.

On the quieter side, Construction (heavy and civil infrastructure) had 8 meetings, down from an average of 11, Cement, concrete and building materials manufacturing had 12 meetings, down from an average of 25, and Engineering, architectural and related services had 14 meetings, down from an average of 21.

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 2026-06

↳ Construction (buildings) displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Cement, concrete and building materials manufacturing has been trending downward in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Cement, concrete and building materials manufacturing displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Engineering, architectural and related services displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Construction (heavy and civil infrastructure) has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Construction (heavy and civil infrastructure) 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 BC Real Estate Association, and Canadian Home Builders' Association.

On the quieter side, Canadian Construction Association, CEMENT ASSOCIATION OF CANADA, and Canadian Federation of Apartment Associations 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:

↳ Construction (buildings) → Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC): 15 meetings (avg 9, +67%).

↳ Real estate and housing → House of Commons: 10 meetings (avg 14, -28%).

↳ Real estate and housing → Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC): 10 meetings (avg 15, -35%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Heidelberg Materials → Finance Canada (FIN): 9 meetings (avg 3, +177%).

↳ BC Real Estate Association → House of Commons: 4 meetings (avg 1, +500%).

↳ AMB Tresec Inc. dba Modulable → Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC): 4 meetings (avg 0, +1100%).

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 Universities, colleges and research institutes → Infrastructure with 52 meetings.

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Vale Canada Limited → Infrastructure: 18 meetings (avg 8, +140%).

↳ Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation → Infrastructure: 18 meetings (avg 2, +645%).

↳ Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation → Housing: 18 meetings (avg 2, +645%).

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 Real estate and housing → Fahim Khan (Finance Canada (FIN)), Construction (buildings) → Fahim Khan (Finance Canada (FIN)) and Cement, concrete and building materials manufacturing → Matthew O'Connell (Finance Canada (FIN)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Heidelberg Materials → Ian Foucher (Finance Canada (FIN)), Heidelberg Materials → Matthew O'Connell (Finance Canada (FIN)) and BILD → Fahim Khan (Finance Canada (FIN)).