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 — Healthcare

• Lobbying activity totalled 158 meetings in July 2026, down from a 12-month average of 176.8.
• The biggest moves were in Medical professional associations and Hospitals.
• Canadian Dental Association, Inclusion Canada were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in July 2026 Data

Ottawa Unveils $200M AI Health Funding

Following a surge in lobbying for digital health infrastructure and AI adoption by HealthCareCAN at both Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) and Finance Canada (FIN), as well as the Canadian Medical Association at the House of Commons, Ottawa launched a $200 million package to accelerate AI integration in hospitals and research organizations. This commitment comes amid calls from health charities and industry groups, including CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY and HealthCareCAN, to modernize electronic health records and support digital tools, and may influence further advocacy as implementation unfolds.

📎 Ottawa’s AI strategy includes $200M for health

Hospitals Ramp Up AI Lobbying as Pilots Shift to Implementation

Canadian hospitals logged more lobbying meetings in July, with organizations such as the Canadian Medical Association and HealthCareCAN engaging the House of Commons, coinciding with sector-wide movement from experimental AI pilots toward real-world deployment and governance. The lobbying spike reflects concerns about regulatory clarity, privacy obligations, and operational funding as organizations, including the Canadian Cancer Society in its discussions with Health Canada, push for smoother implementation and expansion of AI in care delivery.

📎 AI in Canadian health care: The implementation shift | BLG

Industry Groups Push for Digital Health Infrastructure

Lobbying efforts in July, led by HealthCareCAN, the Canadian Medical Association, and the Canadian Cancer Society in meetings with the House of Commons, focused on improved health data platforms and infrastructure, aligning with government investment in connectivity and digital standards for care and research. The timing coincides with federal policy shifts and funding announcements, as medical equipment manufacturers and charities advocate for enhanced data access, support for clinical trials, and modernization of electronic health records.

📎 Ottawa’s AI strategy includes $200M for health

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 158 meetings in July 2026, down from a 12-month average of 177. The most active industry was Health care charities and organizations, while Medical professional associations fell below its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Hospitals logged 19 meetings, up from an average of 14, and Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing logged 8 meetings, up from an average of 5.

On the quieter side, Pharmacies and personal care retailers had 2 meetings, down from an average of 3, Health care services had 6 meetings, down from an average of 10, Residential care services had 4 meetings, down from an average of 8, and Medical professional associations had 40 meetings, down from an average of 54.

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 2026-07

Health care charities and organizations saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in July 2026.

↳ Health care charities and organizations has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Health care charities and organizations displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Medical professional associations has been trending downward in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Medical professional associations displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

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

↳ Residential care services 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 Canadian Dental Association, Inclusion Canada, HealthCareCAN, and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

On the quieter side, Canadian Medical Association 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:

↳ Health care charities and organizations → House of Commons: 33 meetings (avg 44, -26%).

↳ Health care charities and organizations → Health Canada (HC): 13 meetings (avg 17, -22%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Canadian Dental Association → House of Commons: 16 meetings (avg 8, +113%).

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:

↳ Medical professional associations → Health: 40 meetings (avg 54, -25%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Pharmascience Inc. → Health: 33 meetings (avg 12, +181%).

↳ CANADIAN HEALTH FOOD ASSOCIATION → Health: 18 meetings (avg 3, +440%).

↳ Canadian Dental Association → Health: 16 meetings (avg 9, +83%).

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 Medical professional associations → Raquel Dancho (House of Commons), Health care charities and organizations → Raquel Dancho (House of Commons) and Health care charities and organizations → Sonia Sidhu (House of Commons).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) → Brian MacKay (Canadian Heritage (PCH)), Celiac Canada → Sonia Sidhu (House of Commons) and Canadian Medical Association → Lori Idlout (House of Commons).