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 — ICT & Cybersecurity, 2026-03

• Overall, lobbying across this channel's industries totalled 208 meetings in March 2026, compared to a 12-month average of 184.3 (+13%).
• The organizations with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include: Valid8 Financial, Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, Cohere.
• The organizations with the most notable decreases include: Rogers Communications Inc..

📰 Real-World Implications — ICT & Cybersecurity, 2026-03

Surge in Lobbying Signals Urgency Around Cybersecurity Legislation

The March 2026 surge in meetings, particularly in software and security services, likely reflects an industry response to new and pending federal cybersecurity legislation. Bill C-8 (formerly C-26), currently under Senate review, imposes mandatory cybersecurity programs, incident reporting, and increased supply chain oversight, directly affecting software, telecom, and IT service providers.

📎 Bill C-8 | openparliament.ca · Bill C-26 Cybersecurity Compliance Guide for Critical Infrastructure

Intellectual Property Push Reflects AI and Digital Innovation Race

The rise in lobbying around intellectual property (IP), especially by universities, software, and aerospace, suggests stakeholders are responding to Canada's bid to become a global AI and tech leader. As Canada updates its IP frameworks to support innovation in AI, digital media, and defense technology, institutions seek to secure better protections and incentives for investment in this competitive global landscape.

📎 Government of Canada introduces latest National Cyber Security Strategy · Canada's National Cyber Security Strategy: Securing Canada’s Digital Future

Government Focus on Critical Infrastructure Drives Security Services Lobbying

Growth in meetings from security and investigation services, including organizations like the Corps of Commissionaires and OCSEIA, is tied to Ottawa’s focus on critical infrastructure protection. Recent federal initiatives—including new cyber certification programs for suppliers and targeted sector risk assessments—are leading these organizations to push for inclusion, funding, and influence over standards-setting as attack threats mount.

📎 Government of Canada introduces Level 1 of Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification · National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026

Digital Media Lobbying Surges Amid Online Content and Privacy Debates

The increase in digital media/social network lobbying, with focus on the House of Commons and Privy Council, suggests platforms like Google and Facebook are lobbying on new controls around content moderation, privacy, and digital sovereignty. This activity aligns with government debates on balancing platform regulation, GenAI content, and the protection of personal information in anticipation of new privacy and online harms legislation.

📎 Government of Canada advances digital sovereignty and secure communications through contract extension with BlackBerry

Declining Telecom Lobbying May Reflect Policy Fatigue or Regulatory Maturity

The drop in telecom lobbying activity (including Rogers) could indicate temporary policy fatigue, the sector’s satisfaction with current regulatory progress, or consolidation ahead of new, clearer cybersecurity requirements. The sector was previously highly engaged during initial debates on telecom security and supply-chain oversight; with Bill C-8 set to pass, focus may be shifting to implementation over advocacy.

📎 Parliamentary Committee Notes: Cyber Security

Section A: Lobbying Activity by Industry

This section compares, by NAICS industry, the lobbying activity in Ottawa last month to its historical average.

Overall, lobbying across this channel's industries totalled 208 meetings in March 2026, compared to a 12-month average of 184.3 (+13%). This represents a roughly in line.

Computer and electronic product manufacturing saw a notable decline in lobbying activity — 12 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 20.5 (-41%).

Software experienced a significant surge in lobbying activity — 68 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 45 (+51%).

Digital media and social networks experienced a notable increase in lobbying activity — 12 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 8.7 (+38%).

↳ Compared to the same month in prior years (avg 3.3), this is a significant surge (+260%).

Security and investigation services experienced a significant surge in lobbying activity — 21 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 4.3 (+385%).

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 2026-03

Software ended March 2026 with a residual of +22.8, well above its expected trend.

↳ Software has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Software displayed high volatility in its lobbying pattern, suggesting irregular or event-driven activity.

↳ Telecommunications displayed high volatility in its lobbying pattern, suggesting irregular or event-driven activity.

↳ Security and investigation services has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Security and investigation services displayed high volatility in its lobbying pattern, suggesting irregular or event-driven activity.

↳ Broadcast media production and distribution has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Computing and IT services has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Computing and IT services displayed high volatility in its lobbying pattern, suggesting irregular or event-driven activity.

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: Valid8 Financial, Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, Cohere.

↳ Valid8 Financial: 15 meetings vs. 1.5 average (+900%).

↳ Canadian Corps of Commissionaires: 14 meetings vs. 2.4 average (+479%).

↳ Cohere: 13 meetings vs. 7.1 average (+84%).

The organizations with the most notable decreases include: Rogers Communications Inc..

↳ Rogers Communications Inc.: 6 meetings vs. 12.6 average (-52%).

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

Notable industry → institution pairs this month:

↳ Software → House of Commons: 25 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 8.3, +200%).

↳ Telecommunications → House of Commons: 13 meetings (notable decline vs. avg 20.7, -37%).

↳ Software → Innovation, Science and Eco...: 11 meetings (notable increase vs. avg 8.3, +32%).

Notable organization → institution pairs this month:

↳ Valid8 Financial → House of Commons: 9 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 0.8, +1100%).

↳ Google Canada Corporation → House of Commons: 7 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 2.8, +155%).

↳ Cohere → Innovation, Science and Eco...: 6 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 2.5, +140%).

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

Notable industry → subject pairs this month:

↳ Universities, colleges and ... → Intellectual Property: 48 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 26.6, +81%).

↳ Telecommunications → Telecommunications: 41 meetings (notable decline vs. avg 55.6, -26%).

↳ Aerospace product and parts... → Intellectual Property: 41 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 16, +156%).

Notable organization → subject pairs this month:

↳ Aerospace Industries Associ... → Intellectual Property: 27 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 8.2, +227%).

↳ The University of British C... → Intellectual Property: 26 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 6, +333%).

↳ TELESAT CANADA → Telecommunications: 15 meetings (notable increase vs. avg 11.2, +33%).

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