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 147 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 110.1.
• The biggest moves were in Aerospace product and parts manufacturing and Foreign affairs and international assistance.
• Canada Rocket Company, Provincial Aerospace Limited were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in February 2026 Data

Defence Industrial Strategy Triggers Lobbying Surge

February 2026 saw a marked increase in defence sector lobbying, coinciding with the unveiling of Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy. Organisations such as Lockheed Martin Canada, Irving Shipbuilding Inc., and CAE Inc. focused on advancing government procurement that favors Canadian technology development, talent retention, and a stronger domestic industrial base as outlined in the new policy framework, engaging with National Defence (DND) and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to emphasize these priorities.

📎 Canada Defence Industrial Strategy | Gowling WLG

‘Buy Canadian’ Policy Spurs Domestic Procurement Advocacy

The announcement of a 'Buy Canadian' defence procurement approach in February prompted a surge in industry outreach, especially from defence and aerospace firms such as Irving Shipbuilding Inc., Ontario Shipyards, and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited, seeking roles in national fleet and shipbuilding contracts through meetings with National Defence (DND), Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). This policy pivot, targeting reduced U.S. reliance and increased European and Indo-Pacific partnerships, aligns with the sharp lobbying uptick recorded in the period.

📎 ‘Buy Canadian’ defence plan now lies on implementation

Air Force Modernization Drives OEM and Industry Participation

Heightened lobbying on advanced platform procurement and aerospace partnerships by De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited, CAE Inc., and Saab Canada, Inc., coincides with government consideration by National Defence (DND) and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) of expanding fighter acquisitions, including a possible Canadian-assembled mixed fleet. Industry actors, such as CAE Inc. and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited, are emphasizing the economic and technological benefits of such procurements in their discussions with policymakers.

📎 Canada Considers Purchasing 72 Gripen E/F and 72 F-35A for Its Air Force

Budget Commitments Fuel Industrial Lobbying

The historic budget increases for defence, announced for 2025–2026, have led industry advocates such as Ontario Shipyards and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited to intensify their engagement with the House of Commons and National Defence (DND) on infrastructure, supply chain, and digital/cyber investments. This aligns with documented lobbying activity—including meetings by Draganfly Inc. and the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) with Global Affairs Canada—focused on shipyards, AI applications, and Canadian manufacturing throughout February.

📎 Canada’s New Defence Policy - Norton Rose Fulbright

Arctic Operations and Northern Sovereignty as Lobbying Focal Points

Lobbyists, including Provincial Aerospace Limited in meetings with the Prime Minister's Office and Privy Council Office, have increased activity around policies supporting Arctic operational readiness and northern presence, echoing recent government priorities on NORAD upgrades and future vessel procurement discussed with Irving Shipbuilding Inc. and Public Services and Procurement Canada. This pattern coincides with broader national security and sovereignty objectives outlined in public defence documents.

📎 Carney announces $35B for defence, infrastructure in Canada's North

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 147 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 110. 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 Foreign affairs and international assistance logged 4 meetings, up from an average of 2, and Aerospace product and parts manufacturing logged 74 meetings, up from an average of 44.

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 2026-02

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

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

↳ 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 Canada Rocket Company, Provincial Aerospace Limited, L3Harris MAS Inc., Airbus Canada Limited Partnership, and Rolls-Royce Canada Limited.

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 → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 22 meetings (avg 13, +73%).

↳ Aerospace product and parts manufacturing → National Defence (DND): 20 meetings (avg 9, +131%).

↳ Defence → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 12 meetings (avg 8, +53%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Ontario Shipyards → House of Commons: 7 meetings (avg 2, +250%).

↳ Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 5 meetings (avg 2, +161%).

↳ Canada Rocket Company → Global Affairs Canada (GAC): 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 busiest industry → subject corridors this month:

↳ Aerospace product and parts manufacturing → Defence: 57 meetings (avg 32, +80%).

↳ Aerospace product and parts manufacturing → Industry: 50 meetings (avg 35, +44%).

↳ Software → National Security/Security: 42 meetings (avg 11, +297%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Secure Future Research Ltd DBA ControlAI → National Security/Security: 31 meetings (avg 3, +854%).

↳ The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs → National Security/Security: 24 meetings (avg 8, +188%).

↳ TELESAT CANADA → Defence: 19 meetings (avg 11, +78%).

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 → Stephen Fuhr (House of Commons), Aerospace product and parts manufacturing → Mélanie Joly (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Defence → Stephen Fuhr (House of Commons).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Stephen Fuhr (House of Commons), Ontario Shipyards → Chris Bittle (House of Commons) and Provincial Aerospace Limited → Matt Hall (Prime Minister's Office (PMO)).