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 141 meetings in September 2026, roughly in line with its 12-month average of 143.
• The biggest moves were in Ship and boat building and Foreign affairs and international assistance.
• Conair Group Inc., Jaunt Air Mobility Canada were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in September 2026 Data

Ottawa's Defence Industrial Strategy Spurs Aerospace Lobbying

A surge in lobbying from aerospace manufacturers, including the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada engaging with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC), coincides with Ottawa’s efforts to implement its new Defence Industrial Strategy. Industry players like CAE Inc. and Navhouse Corporation actively seek policy support on procurement, export controls, skilled labour, and domestic production as government targets a 70% share for Canadian firms in defence contracts, raising stakes for innovation and economic growth.

📎 Ottawa moves to rewire the country defence economy | Gowling WLG

Northern Defence Funding Sees Industry Mobilization

Lobbying related to aviation and procurement intensified alongside government plans for major upgrades to Arctic and Northern infrastructure, as seen in engagement from the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada with Finance Canada and National Defence. Expanded investments in northern bases and airfields appear to have spurred fresh industry engagement from organisations such as Airbus Canada Limited Partnership and MHI RJ Aviation ULC, aimed at influencing logistics, certification, and defence support opportunities.

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

Alberta Projects Attract Local Innovation Advocacy

Industry groups, including Conair Group, Canada Rocket Company and the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, ramped up lobbying with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada for talent retention and innovation amid a federal announcement of $8B in defence projects for Alberta. This uptick suggests stakeholders are positioning themselves to capitalize on new regional infrastructure investments, vying for job growth and technology development.

📎 Federal defence minister McGuinty delivers pro-Canada message in ...

Aerospace Outpaces Shipbuilding in Lobbying Trends

September 2026 lobbying records show aerospace manufacturers such as Strix Aero, CAE Inc., and the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada leading engagement with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Finance Canada (FIN), while shipbuilding activity from Ontario Shipyards and Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. remains subdued, mirroring broader trends driven by Ottawa’s strategic focus on aerospace innovation and procurement. This pattern underscores shifting industrial priorities and competitive positioning for defence contracts.

📎 Ottawa moves to rewire the country defence economy | Gowling WLG

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 141 meetings in September 2026, roughly in line with its 12-month average of 143. The most active industry was Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, while Ship and boat building fell below its recent baseline.

Foreign affairs and international assistance logged 2 meetings, up from an average of 2.

Ship and boat building had 4 meetings, down from an average of 20.

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 2026-09

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

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

↳ Defence has been trending downward 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 Conair Group Inc., Jaunt Air Mobility Canada, Canada Rocket Company, and General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada.

On the quieter side, Irving Shipbuilding 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 → Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC): 20 meetings (avg 11, +86%).

↳ Defence → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 18 meetings (avg 14, +31%).

↳ Defence → National Defence (DND): 17 meetings (avg 14, +21%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → National Defence (DND): 10 meetings (avg 2, +300%).

↳ Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 10 meetings (avg 4, +161%).

↳ Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC): 7 meetings (avg 2, +282%).

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: 67 meetings (avg 49, +38%).

↳ Universities, colleges and research institutes → Defence: 57 meetings (avg 44, +31%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Emergent BioSolutions Canada Inc. → Defence: 15 meetings (avg 4, +253%).

↳ Bruce Power → National Security/Security: 14 meetings (avg 9, +62%).

↳ Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Government Procurement: 12 meetings (avg 8, +58%).

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 → kendel Hembroff (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Defence → Heather Sheehy (National Defence (DND)) and Aerospace product and parts manufacturing → Dan Lussier (Public Safety Canada (PS)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → kendel Hembroff (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Heather Sheehy (National Defence (DND)) and Airbus Canada Limited Partnership → Philip Jennings (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)).