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 127 meetings in April 2026, roughly in line with its 12-month average of 122.5.
• The biggest moves were in Ship and boat building and Foreign affairs and international assistance.
• Dominion Dynamics Inc., Space Exploration Technologies Company (SpaceX) were more active than usual.

Real-World Context — Defence, April 2026

Defence Industrial Strategy Launch Fuels Industry Engagement

A pronounced surge in lobbying related to the Defence and Aerospace sectors in April 2026 coincides with the February announcement of Canada's first Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS). Official records show industry players met frequently with government officials to discuss DIS implementation, procurement reforms, and export promotion. With $6.6 billion allocated for DIS and a ten-year procurement pipeline, stakeholders are intensifying advocacy to shape program details and ensure access to upcoming contract opportunities. This is especially relevant as DIS sets ambitious targets to raise Canadian content in procurement and boost defence exports.

📎 Prime Minister launches Canada's first Defence Industrial Strategy · Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy

Shipbuilding, Submarine, and Surface Fleet Projects Remain Hot Topics

Lobbying records reveal intensive discussions around the National Shipbuilding Strategy, future combat vessels, and potential submarine projects. This activity aligns with federal efforts to modernize naval capabilities under the DIS, which specifically prioritizes domestic shipbuilding and sovereignty in critical defence assets. Recent government messaging and media coverage underscore these procurement priorities and the intention to accelerate delivery timelines, drawing sustained lobbying by major shipbuilders and suppliers.

📎 Canada's first Defence Industrial Strategy focuses on rebuilding fleets · Shipbuilding Modernization and National Shipbuilding Strategy

Universities and Institutes Step Up R&D Advocacy

A marked increase in meetings between post-secondary institutions and federal departments on defence topics reflects new R&D funding streams and innovation priorities in the DIS. Lobbying descriptions document calls for expanded grants, collaborative research, and technology commercialization, coinciding with the strategy's pledge to boost government investment in defence R&D by 85% over the next decade. This direct engagement underscores how academic partners view DIS as an opportunity to secure sustained backstopping for their research capacity.

📎 Defence Industrial Strategy—R&D Commitments · Major R&D focus in Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy

Aerospace Manufacturers Lobby for Export and Capability Policy

Meetings between aerospace manufacturers and government departments about export support, industrial benefits, and environmental regulation align with the aerospace sector’s prominent place in the DIS. The strategy emphasizes export growth (targeting a 50% increase) and frameworks to support domestic aerospace champions, mirroring the industry's sharpened advocacy for new policy supports and technology development.

📎 Carney unveils 'Buy Canadian' defence plan, says security can't be a 'hostage' · DIS prioritizes aerospace capacity and export expansion

SMBs and Innovation-Focused Firms Seek Entry into Defence Supply Chain

Lobbying data shows a surge of engagement by technology and innovation-driven SMEs, as well as organizations like Dominion Dynamics Inc. The DIS commits to growing small and medium enterprises’ share of defence revenues by $5.1 billion annually and deepens support for dual-use technologies, motivating tech-oriented firms to advocate for inclusion in procurement and R&D opportunities.

📎 DIS promises boost for small firms and dual-use innovation · Canada’s New Defence Industrial Strategy: What Does It Do & Will It Work?

Section A: 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 127 meetings in April 2026, roughly in line with its 12-month average of 122. The most active industry was Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, while Defence rose above its recent baseline.

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 19 meetings, down from an average of 26.

Section B: 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 A and B shows you whether recent differences are persistent trends or a break from the norm.

Top Industry Residual Trends for 2026-04

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

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

↳ 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.

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

Section C: 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 Dominion Dynamics Inc., Space Exploration Technologies Company (SpaceX), Naval Group, and Boeing Operations International, Incorporated.

On the quieter side, Aerospace Industries Association of Canada pulled back from its usual pace.

Section D: 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): 16 meetings (avg 13, +24%).

↳ Defence → National Defence (DND): 15 meetings (avg 10, +48%).

↳ Defence → House of Commons: 15 meetings (avg 9, +59%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Dominion Dynamics Inc. → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 9 meetings (avg 1, +980%).

↳ Space Exploration Technologies Company (SpaceX) → House of Commons: 7 meetings (avg 1, +833%).

↳ Dominion Dynamics Inc. → National Defence (DND): 5 meetings (avg 1, +757%).

Section E: 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:

↳ Universities, colleges and research institutes → Defence: 69 meetings (avg 25, +172%).

↳ Defence → Defence: 51 meetings (avg 42, +21%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ The Professional Institute for the Public Service of Canada → Defence: 36 meetings (avg 8, +380%).

↳ Memorial University of Newfoundland → Defence: 17 meetings (avg 2, +974%).

↳ Memorial University of Newfoundland → National Security/Security: 17 meetings (avg 2, +974%).

Section F: 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 → Madeleine Chenette (House of Commons), Defence → Tim Logan (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Defence → Maninder Sidhu (Global Affairs Canada (GAC)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Dominion Dynamics Inc. → Tim Logan (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Maninder Sidhu (Global Affairs Canada (GAC)) and Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Madeleine Chenette (House of Commons).