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 — Hospitality & Retail

• Lobbying activity totalled 60 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 51.8.
• The biggest moves were in Spectator sports and Travel and tourism services.
• National Golf Course Owners Association (Canada), Tourism Industry Association of Canada were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in February 2026 Data

Federal Funding for International Events Aligns with Industry Push

A notable uptick in lobbying from the Tourism Industry Association of Canada at the House of Commons and Prime Minister's Office, as well as the Hotel Association of Canada at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), requesting enhanced grants and event attraction funds coincides with the federal government's launch of a $15 million International Convention Attraction Fund announced in April 2026. This investment aims to boost Canada's competitiveness for major international gatherings—directly reflecting key demands from recent hospitality and retail sector advocacy.

📎 Minister Valdez announces federal funding to attract major ...

Ottawa’s Tourism Spending Cuts Spur Defensive Lobbying Surge

A surge in meetings from hospitality and tourism stakeholders, including the Tourism Industry Association of Canada and the Hotel Association of Canada with the House of Commons and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), occurred in tandem with federal announcements of significant reallocation of resources—reducing tourism program funding as part of broader spending cuts in March 2026. This defensive lobbying appears driven by sector concerns over program reductions and redirected economic development priorities, as seen in approaches from Elevate Festival to both the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev) and Finance Canada (FIN).

📎 To chop spending, Ottawa will cut science, tourism, foreign aid ...

Lobbying for Streamlined Travel Echoes Event-readiness Initiatives

Elevated advocacy around visitor entry, airline policy, and travel infrastructure, notably by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada in its meetings with the House of Commons and Prime Minister's Office, mirrored federal communications about preparing for a spike in international arrivals—particularly for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Investments to optimize travel efficiency and accessibility appear to dovetail with the sector’s calls for smoother entry and improved travel experiences, as seen in Association of Canadian Travel Agencies’ ongoing engagement with the Canadian Transportation Agency and Hotel Association of Canada's advocacy with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

📎 Canada Simplifies 2026 World Cup Entry Rules – Know the Exceptions ...

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 60 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 52. The most active industry was Spectator sports, while Travel and tourism services rose above its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Recreation and amusement industries logged 9 meetings, up from an average of 7, Travel and tourism services logged 13 meetings, up from an average of 7, Spectator sports logged 16 meetings, up from an average of 8, and Camping and RV parks logged 2 meetings, up from an average of 1.

On the quieter side, Restaurants had 5 meetings, down from an average of 8, Event and entertainment organizations had 4 meetings, down from an average of 5, Gambling industries had 2 meetings, down from an average of 2, and Hotels and traveler accommodation had 2 meetings, down from an average of 6.

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

↳ Travel and tourism services has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Travel and tourism services displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Hotels and traveler accommodation has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Hotels and traveler accommodation displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

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

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

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

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

↳ Event and entertainment organizations 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 National Golf Course Owners Association (Canada), Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Vélo Canada Bikes, and Elevate Festival.

On the quieter side, Hotel Association of Canada 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:

↳ Spectator sports → House of Commons: 13 meetings (avg 4, +271%).

↳ Travel and tourism services → House of Commons: 9 meetings (avg 3, +192%).

↳ Cruise lines → Transport Canada (TC): 7 meetings (avg 2, +250%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ National Golf Course Owners Association (Canada) → House of Commons: 10 meetings (avg 1, +1100%).

↳ Tourism Industry Association of Canada → House of Commons: 9 meetings (avg 2, +332%).

↳ Oceanex, Inc. → Transport Canada (TC): 7 meetings (avg 2, +320%).

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:

↳ Airports and support activities for air transportation → Tourism: 16 meetings (avg 9, +75%).

↳ Spectator sports → Sports: 16 meetings (avg 6, +156%).

↳ Spectator sports → Tourism: 15 meetings (avg 5, +227%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Greater Toronto Airports Authority → Tourism: 14 meetings (avg 3, +425%).

↳ Tourism Industry Association of Canada → Budget: 12 meetings (avg 4, +206%).

↳ Tourism Industry Association of Canada → Small Business: 12 meetings (avg 3, +279%).

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 Cruise lines → Sonya Read (Transport Canada (TC)), Event and entertainment organizations → Leah Fancey (House of Commons) and Cruise lines → François Marier (Transport Canada (TC)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Oceanex, Inc. → Sonya Read (Transport Canada (TC)), Association des théâtres francophones du Canada → Leah Fancey (House of Commons) and Oceanex, Inc. → Ron Mckinnon (Transport Canada (TC)).