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

Arctic Defence Spending Drives Policy and Lobbying

Canada's significant boost to Arctic and northern defence in the April 2024 policy update comes amid heightened lobbying from organizations such as Irving Shipbuilding Inc., Provincial Aerospace Limited, and Ontario Shipyards, who have engaged with departments including National Defence (DND), Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) concerning combat vessels, operational hubs, and NORAD modernization. Stakeholders from these companies have been actively engaging policymakers to influence future spending, vessel maintenance, and northern sovereignty initiatives in line with this new federal direction.

📎 A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence · Our North, Strong and Free: Canada’s Defence Policy Update Promises More Money

National Shipbuilding Strategy Expansion Fuels Industry Engagement

The conclusion of Arctic patrol ship deliveries and the launch of River-class destroyer construction coincide with increased lobbying by Irving Shipbuilding Inc., Ontario Shipyards, and Davie Canada Yard Inc. on shipyard investments, combat vessel contracts, and in-service fleet support, often engaging with Public Services and Procurement Canada and the House of Commons. Industry representatives are closely monitoring and seeking input on procurement aspects of Canada’s major naval recapitalization projects under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.

📎 2024 Year in Review: National Shipbuilding Strategy · Canada launches sixth and final Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship

Fighter, Patrol & Multirole Aircraft Procurement Spurs Fierce Lobbying

Major contract awards for Bombardier Global 6500 jets and debate over Canada’s future fighter fleet—including mixed procurement of F-35 and Gripen aircraft—coincide with aggressive industry lobbying by Bombardier Inc. with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), and by De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited in discussions with the House of Commons. Stakeholders are pressing for procurement opportunities, technology retention, and domestic assembly options as the government, including Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), finalizes deals for large-scale air platform acquisitions.

📎 Government of Canada announces contract to deliver new multi-role aircraft for Royal Canadian Air Force · Canada Considers Purchasing 72 Gripen E/F and 72 F-35A for Its Air Force

New Procurement Agency Accelerates Industry Access

The creation of the Defence Investment Agency (DIA) in late 2025 marks an institutional response to longstanding acquisition bottlenecks. Its launch—alongside the award of a major Bombardier Inc. contract secured through dialogues with Public Services and Procurement Canada and National Defence (DND)—coincides with renewed lobbying from De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited, CAE Inc., and Ontario Shipyards for streamlined procurement, industry benefits, and modernized processes for urgent defence priorities.

📎 Canada awards Bombardier $546 million contract for six Global 6500 · Procurement | Canadian Army Today

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.

↳ 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 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%).

↳ Bombardier Inc. → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 4 meetings (avg 2, +92%).

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 Ontario Shipyards → Chris Bittle (House of Commons), Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Stephen Fuhr (House of Commons) and Ontario Shipyards → Mélanie Joly (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)).