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 191 meetings in May 2026, up from a 12-month average of 137.2.
• The biggest moves were in Defence and Aerospace product and parts manufacturing.
• Airbus Canada Limited Partnership, Magellan Aerospace Corporation were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in May 2026 Data

Defence Procurement Reform Accelerates

The introduction of Bill C-31 in early May 2026 signals a major overhaul of Canada’s defence procurement law, closely coinciding with a notable spike in lobbying from Lockheed Martin Canada, Anvil Intelligence Inc., and Canada Rocket Company focused on procurement flexibility, industry participation, and dual-use technologies, particularly in discussions with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada. This legislative shift is viewed in industry circles as a direct response to longstanding calls for streamlined contracting and greater collaboration between government and Canadian defence suppliers.

📎 Bill C-31 and the Defence Investment Agency Act: A Practical Guide to ...

Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy Drives Industry Engagement

The Defence Industrial Strategy rolled out in February 2026 set ambitious targets for domestic content, R&D, and technology retention, seemingly prompting heightened industry lobbying by MHI RJ Aviation ULC, Provincial Aerospace Limited, and Robotics Centre, Inc. on procurement and intellectual property issues. Many recent meetings between defence companies and federal officials, such as those with the House of Commons and Public Services and Procurement Canada, have emphasized aligning government acquisition with the new 'Build–Partner–Buy' framework and reinforcing the domestic defence supply chain.

📎 Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy | BLG

Aerospace and Defence Lobbying Surges Alongside NORAD Modernization Push

Heightened government and industry discussions around NORAD modernization and sovereign industrial capabilities in Spring 2026 have occurred in parallel with a surge in meetings by major aerospace and defence manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin Canada and Rheinmetall Canada Inc. with the House of Commons and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). The coordination of these meetings, including those by the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), with policy steps to bolster supply chains and next-generation platform development supports perceptions of a sector seeking to influence evolving procurement and defence technology priorities.

📎 2026 Defence Outlook - Government Contracts, Procurement & PPP - Canada

Defence Funding Boost Spurs Lobbying on Procurement and Industrial Policy

The significant defence funding commitments made in Budget 2025, aiming for a rapid increase in military expenditure as a share of GDP, have coincided with lobbying activity from the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, Magellan Aerospace Corporation, and Robotics Centre, Inc., centered on supporting Canadian aerospace and defence manufacturing through discussions with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada. This influx of government investment is frequently referenced in calls for procurement modernization and support for advanced aviation technology development.

📎 Future of defence—transforming procurement | PwC Canada

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 191 meetings in May 2026, up from a 12-month average of 137. The most active industry was Defence, while Aerospace product and parts manufacturing rose above its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Aerospace product and parts manufacturing logged 82 meetings, up from an average of 57, and Defence logged 96 meetings, up from an average of 53.

On the quieter side, Foreign affairs and international assistance had 1 meetings, down from an average of 2, and Ship and boat building had 12 meetings, down from an average of 25.

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 2026-05

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

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

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

↳ Aerospace product and parts manufacturing 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.

↳ 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 Airbus Canada Limited Partnership, Magellan Aerospace Corporation, Space Exploration Technologies Company (SpaceX), Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., and Raytheon Company.

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): 30 meetings (avg 12, +161%).

↳ Defence → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 26 meetings (avg 12, +126%).

↳ Defence → Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC): 22 meetings (avg 9, +140%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 10 meetings (avg 3, +216%).

↳ Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Prime Minister's Office (PMO): 9 meetings (avg 2, +500%).

↳ Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC): 8 meetings (avg 1, +638%).

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:

↳ Defence → Government Procurement: 97 meetings (avg 48, +101%).

↳ Defence → Defence: 79 meetings (avg 46, +71%).

↳ Aerospace product and parts manufacturing → Defence: 65 meetings (avg 43, +51%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Association of Canadian Port Authorities → National Security/Security: 31 meetings (avg 4, +644%).

↳ Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Government Procurement: 28 meetings (avg 6, +331%).

↳ Facebook Canada Ltd. → National Security/Security: 27 meetings (avg 6, +363%).

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 → David McFarlane (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Defence → Brian Botting (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Defence → David Mcguinty (National Defence (DND)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → David McFarlane (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Marc-André Blanchard (Prime Minister's Office (PMO)) and Provincial Aerospace Limited → Zachariah Downey (Global Affairs Canada (GAC)).