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

• Lobbying activity totalled 250 meetings in March 2026, up from a 12-month average of 195.5.
• The biggest moves were in Software and Security and investigation services.
• Valid8 Financial, Canadian Corps of Commissionaires were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in March 2026 Data

Intensified AI Policy Advocacy Amid Sovereign Compute Strategy Rollout

A surge in lobbying for AI policy and infrastructure by TELUS Corporation and Google Canada Corporation closely coincides with the federal launch of Canada’s Sovereign AI Compute Strategy in April 2026, as these organisations engage with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the House of Commons. Industry players are seeking influence over program design, funding criteria, and support for talent development, reflecting a sharp rise in software and security sector meetings as the government sets out application and investment rules.

📎 Lobbying on ICT & Cybersecurity - Ottawa (May 2026 edition)

CRTC’s Fibre Network Ruling Drives Telecommunications Lobbying

Lobbying related to access and competition in telecommunications spiked alongside the CRTC’s order requiring major carriers, such as TELUS Corporation and Bell Canada, to provide wholesale access to their fibre networks. This regulatory step is seen as pivotal for smaller ISPs and BDUs, including advocacy by TekSavvy Solutions Inc. at the House of Commons, prompting heightened advocacy from companies aiming to shape competition policy and access arrangements at a critical regulatory juncture, with dialogue also involving the Canadian Telecommunications Association and interlocutors at Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada.

📎 CRTC Order 2026-77 · CBC report

Consumer Lobbying Escalates as CRTC Ends Switching Fees

Lobbying activity related to consumer protections and digital service competition intensified as the CRTC moved to eliminate nearly all cellphone and Internet switching fees, effective June 2026. This coincides with significant engagement by TELUS Corporation and Facebook Canada Ltd., who, along with interlocutors from the Privy Council Office (PCO), are aiming to shape new rules and adjust market strategies amid anticipated cost reductions for Canadians.

📎 CRTC Regulatory Policy 2026-43 · Refdesk overview

AI Governance Uncertainty Amid Bill C-27 Collapse Spurs Lobbying

The collapse of Bill C-27, which included the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act, has left Canadian AI regulation highly fragmented, driving a wave of lobbying focused on privacy, harmonization, and future federal legislation, notably from Cohere engaging with the House of Commons and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), and Apple Canada Inc advising on consultations. The absence of unified AI policy has prompted industry stakeholders, such as Facebook Canada Ltd. in discussions with the Privy Council Office (PCO), to advocate for clarity and enhanced governance as companies ramp up investment and export controls.

📎 AI Regulation in Canada After AIDA: What Actually Governs AI in 2026

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 250 meetings in March 2026, up from a 12-month average of 196. The most active industry was Software, while Telecommunications rose above its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Broadcast media production and distribution logged 11 meetings, up from an average of 9, Software logged 102 meetings, up from an average of 54, Digital media and social networks logged 12 meetings, up from an average of 9, and Security and investigation services logged 21 meetings, up from an average of 4.

Computer and electronic product manufacturing had 17 meetings, down from an average of 21.

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 2026-03

Software saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in March 2026.

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

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

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

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

↳ Security and investigation services displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Broadcast media production and distribution has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

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

↳ Computing and IT 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 Valid8 Financial, Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, Secure Future Research Ltd DBA ControlAI, and Cohere.

On the quieter side, Rogers Communications 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:

↳ Software → House of Commons: 43 meetings (avg 13, +242%).

↳ Software → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 15 meetings (avg 9, +61%).

↳ Telecommunications → House of Commons: 13 meetings (avg 21, -37%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Secure Future Research Ltd DBA ControlAI → House of Commons: 16 meetings (avg 4, +357%).

↳ Valid8 Financial → House of Commons: 9 meetings (avg 1, +1100%).

↳ Google Canada Corporation → House of Commons: 7 meetings (avg 3, +155%).

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:

↳ Universities, colleges and research institutes → Intellectual Property: 58 meetings (avg 27, +112%).

↳ Software → Science and Technology: 49 meetings (avg 26, +87%).

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

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Aerospace Industries Association of Canada → Intellectual Property: 27 meetings (avg 8, +227%).

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

↳ Secure Future Research Ltd DBA ControlAI → National Security/Security: 16 meetings (avg 5, +249%).

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 Software → Hosai Zurmati Halim (Treasury Board Of Canada Secretariat (TBS)), Digital media and social networks → Brandan Rowe (Privy Council Office (PCO)) and Security and investigation services → Roble Osoble (House of Commons).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Ontario Child Sexual Exploitation Investigators Association (OCSEIA) → Roble Osoble (House of Commons), Facebook Canada Ltd. → Brandan Rowe (Privy Council Office (PCO)) and Octasic Inc. → Ezechiel Nana (National Defence (DND)).