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 — Defence

• Lobbying activity totalled 189 meetings in March 2026, up from a 12-month average of 118.3.
• The biggest moves were in Aerospace product and parts manufacturing and Defence.
• Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, Irving Shipbuilding Inc. were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in March 2026 Data

Defence Industrial Strategy Spurs Lobbying Surge

Following the February 2026 launch of Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy, lobbying activity among aerospace, shipbuilding, and defence firms such as the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, CAE Inc., and MHI RJ Aviation ULC rose sharply, with meetings held across Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), National Defence (DND), and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). This uptick coincides with government plans to funnel over $500 billion into domestic procurement and innovation, driving industry actors to advocate for policy and contract opportunities.

📎 Carney unveils ‘Buy Canadian’ defence plan, says security can’t be a ...

New Agency Accelerates Procurement Amid Lobbying

The government’s rollout of the Defence Investment Agency (DIA) coincides with intensified lobbying from organizations such as De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited and Irving Shipbuilding Inc., seeking streamlined contract processes and more regular industry consultation with National Defence (DND) and the House of Commons. DIA’s mandate to execute the 'Build–Partner–Buy' framework has prompted increased engagement and advocacy around procurement and supply chain projects, reflected in meetings with Ontario Shipyards and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).

📎 Canada Defence Industrial Strategy | Gowling WLG

Innovation Funding Draws Industry Lobbying on R&D

March 2026 saw over $900 million in federal commitments to aerospace, drone, and innovation hubs, notably through newly established platforms like the Drone Innovation Hub. Major firms and tech organizations, including Strix Aero, MHI RJ Aviation ULC, and the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, increased lobbying—particularly with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the House of Commons—for inclusion in these initiatives and for enhanced R&D transition and export supports, aligning their advocacy with government priorities.

📎 Ottawa gives NRC $900 million for drone innovation hub and defence ...

Parliament Recommends Export Supports, Driving Lobbying

A March parliamentary report called for harmonized regulations and expanded export support under the Defence Industrial Strategy, with recommendations closely echoed in lobbying narratives from the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada and cae inc. during meetings with the House of Commons and Public Services and Procurement Canada. The focus on regulatory alignment and new benefits policies underscores direct interplay between legislative developments and heightened advocacy efforts.

📎 Canada s Defence Industrial Strategy: From Innovation To Readiness

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 189 meetings in March 2026, up from a 12-month average of 118. The most active industry was Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, while Defence rose above its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Aerospace product and parts manufacturing logged 93 meetings, up from an average of 49, Ship and boat building logged 31 meetings, up from an average of 24, and Defence logged 65 meetings, up from an average of 44.

Foreign affairs and international assistance had no lobbying meetings this month, down from an average of 2.

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 2026-03

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in March 2026.

↳ Aerospace product and parts manufacturing has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Aerospace product and parts manufacturing displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

Defence saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in March 2026.

↳ Defence has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Ship and boat building has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Ship and boat building displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Foreign affairs and international assistance 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 Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, Irving Shipbuilding Inc., Airbus Canada Limited Partnership, Rolls-Royce Canada Limited, and Skydio, Inc..

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:

↳ Aerospace product and parts manufacturing → House of Commons: 33 meetings (avg 8, +308%).

↳ Defence → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 18 meetings (avg 9, +95%).

↳ Defence → National Defence (DND): 17 meetings (avg 9, +82%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Aerospace Industries Association of Canada → House of Commons: 16 meetings (avg 2, +735%).

↳ Irving Shipbuilding Inc. → Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC): 10 meetings (avg 3, +233%).

↳ Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → National Defence (DND): 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:

↳ Aerospace product and parts manufacturing → Defence: 81 meetings (avg 37, +121%).

↳ Aerospace product and parts manufacturing → Government Procurement: 65 meetings (avg 28, +128%).

↳ Aerospace product and parts manufacturing → Science and Technology: 58 meetings (avg 23, +152%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Aerospace Industries Association of Canada → Transportation: 27 meetings (avg 9, +197%).

↳ Aerospace Industries Association of Canada → Intellectual Property: 27 meetings (avg 8, +227%).

↳ Aerospace Industries Association of Canada → Government Procurement: 27 meetings (avg 8, +227%).

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 Defence → Mélanie Joly (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Defence → Christiane Fox (Privy Council Office (PCO)) and Aerospace product and parts manufacturing → Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay (House of Commons).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Marc-André Blanchard (Prime Minister's Office (PMO)), Irving Shipbuilding Inc. → Chanel Sterlie (Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)) and Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Mark Carney (Prime Minister's Office (PMO)).