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 143 meetings in July 2026, roughly in line with its 12-month average of 142.7.
• The biggest moves were in Aerospace product and parts manufacturing and Ship and boat building.
• Provincial Aerospace Limited, Canada Rocket Company were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in July 2026 Data

Northern Defence Infrastructure Expansion Drives Lobbying Surge

Construction of a major military facility in Yellowknife—part of a $136-million federal investment linked to the 'Our North, Strong and Free' defence policy—coincides with a reported uptick in lobbying around northern operational support, procurement, and related industrial participation. Organizations such as Marshall Land Systems Ltd. and Provincial Aerospace Limited, in meetings with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) and National Defence (DND), are likely positioning themselves to influence forthcoming contracts and policy decisions around Canada's increased military footprint in the North.

📎 New Yellowknife facility to enhance Canada’s efficiency in the North ...

Arctic Policy Funding Aligns with Heightened Northern Security Lobbying

New federal funding through the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework, including priorities like northern security and Indigenous partnerships, aligns closely with lobbying efforts from Marshall Land Systems Ltd. with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), and the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) with National Defence (DND), promoting northern defence, emergency response capabilities, and regional infrastructure. Such government commitments have in recent months attracted sustained advocacy from industry and stakeholders, including Provincial Aerospace Limited with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), aiming to shape security and development priorities in the North.

📎 Investments supporting the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework

Defence Policy Update Fuels Industry Engagement on Technology and Procurement

The April 2024 defence policy update introduced objectives for climate adaptation, NORAD modernization, and defence industry support—areas now central in lobbying campaigns observed in July 2026, with organizations such as Provincial Aerospace Limited and Marshall Land Systems Ltd. raising these issues in meetings with National Defence (DND) and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). Sector organizations are actively advocating for roles in procurement, technology adoption, and industrial strategy as the federal government advances its 'Our North, Strong and Free' vision, exemplified by engagement from the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada and cae inc.

📎 Our North strong and free : a renewed vision for Canada's defence.

Defence Procurement Spending Increase Triggers Industry Advocacy

Canada’s significant hike in planned defence capital spending—an additional $51.5 billion largely driven by NORAD and Arctic priorities—coincides with intensified lobbying by aerospace manufacturers and shipbuilders such as the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada and Provincial Aerospace Limited in meetings with Public Services and Procurement Canada. Industry groups including Canada Rocket Company have responded with campaigns around procurement strategies, facility investment, and export controls, seeking a stake in the expanding defence acquisition pipeline.

📎 Planned Capital Spending under Canada’s Defence Policy: 2024 Update

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 143 meetings in July 2026, roughly in line with its 12-month average of 143. The most active industry was Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, while Defence rose above its recent baseline.

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing logged 79 meetings, up from an average of 61.

On the quieter side, Foreign affairs and international assistance had no lobbying meetings this month, down from an average of 2, and Ship and boat building had 15 meetings, down from an average of 24.

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 2026-07

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

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

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

↳ Ship and boat building has been trending downward in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Ship and boat building 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 Provincial Aerospace Limited, Canada Rocket Company, Magellan Aerospace Corporation, and BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA LIMITED.

On the quieter side, Saab Canada, Inc. pulled back from its 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:

↳ Defence → National Defence (DND): 21 meetings (avg 14, +52%).

↳ Defence → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 16 meetings (avg 13, +24%).

↳ Aerospace product and parts manufacturing → Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC): 15 meetings (avg 8, +88%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 6 meetings (avg 3, +85%).

↳ Draganfly Inc. → National Defence (DND): 5 meetings (avg 1, +362%).

↳ Magellan Aerospace Corporation → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 4 meetings (avg 1, +380%).

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 → Industry: 53 meetings (avg 43, +23%).

↳ Aerospace product and parts manufacturing → Government Procurement: 45 meetings (avg 35, +29%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Aerospace Industries Association of Canada → Industry: 13 meetings (avg 9, +41%).

↳ Aerospace Industries Association of Canada → Employment and Training: 11 meetings (avg 6, +69%).

↳ Amazon Web Services Canada, Inc. → Defence: 11 meetings (avg 7, +61%).

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 Aerospace product and parts manufacturing → Brian Botting (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Aerospace product and parts manufacturing → Philip Jennings (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Defence → Philip Jennings (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Philip Jennings (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Mélanie Joly (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Draganfly Inc. → Christiane Fox (National Defence (DND)).