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 221 meetings in July 2026, down from a 12-month average of 251.2.
• The biggest moves were in Software and Computing and IT services.
• GCAT Group Inc. o-a Mitrex, Ligado Networks Corp. were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in July 2026 Data

Royal Assent of Bill C-8 Triggers Critical Infrastructure Lobbying

The federal government's June 2026 Royal Assent of Bill C-8 launches a new regulatory regime for cyber security in critical infrastructure. This milestone coincides with increased lobbying from TELUS Corporation and Quantum Industry Canada targeting Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), Finance Canada, and the House of Commons on economic development, defence, and telecom regulations, especially as industries seek clarity on compliance and reporting obligations. Lobbying on wholesale access by TELUS Corporation, spectrum auction rules addressed by Ligado Networks and network resilience discussed with Finance Canada, is closely tied to these legislative changes.

📎 Government of Canada Strengthens Cyber Security and Critical ... - Newswire

National Cyber Security Strategy Shapes Industry-Government Lobbying

The updated National Cyber Security Strategy, released in 2025 and referenced in recent announcements, is guiding government-industry engagement, as seen in active discussions between Tenstorrent AI ULC dba Tenstorrent and Shared Services Canada, as well as Quantum Industry Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). Its focus on partnerships, protecting critical services, and positioning Canada as a cyber security leader coincides with elevated lobbying from computer manufacturing and security service sectors, including Qorsa Corp. and Kepler Communications, seeking procurement support and clearer policies amid heightened cyber threats.

📎 Canada's National Cyber Security Strategy

Sectoral Advisories Heighten Pressure for Network Resilience Lobbying

Federal cyber security advisories regarding vulnerabilities in products such as Microsoft SharePoint and Cisco ASA firewalls were issued in August 2026. These advisories coincide with lobbying by telecoms for improved network redundancy, rural connectivity, and critical infrastructure buildout, as heightened vulnerability alerts prompt calls for government action and clearer regulatory expectations.

📎 Canadian Centre for Cyber Security

Telecommunications Sector Engages Regulators Over Competition and Access

The telecommunications industry's lobbying in July 2026 focuses on wholesale access regulations and spectrum auction rules, as Bill C-8 grants new powers related to bottleneck facilities and sustainable competition. This activity, seen in meetings between TELUS Corporation, Rogers Communications Inc., Bell Canada, TekSavvy Solutions Inc., and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), matches ongoing policy dialogues with ISED and Parliament, reflecting telecom providers' concerns about procurement, competition, and rural broadband expansion.

📎 Government of Canada Strengthens Cyber Security and Critical ... - Newswire

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 221 meetings in July 2026, down from a 12-month average of 251. The most active industry was Software, while Telecommunications fell below its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Computer and electronic product manufacturing logged 39 meetings, up from an average of 28, and Security and investigation services logged 14 meetings, up from an average of 10.

On the quieter side, Broadcast media production and distribution had 8 meetings, down from an average of 15, Software had 55 meetings, down from an average of 74, and Computing and IT services had 39 meetings, down from an average of 51.

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

Computer and electronic product manufacturing saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in July 2026.

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

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

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

↳ Telecommunications has been trending downward in lobbying over the past year.

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

↳ Computing and IT services 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.

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 GCAT Group Inc. o-a Mitrex, Ligado Networks Corp., and RiskThinking.ai.

On the quieter side, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, and TELUS Corporation all pulled back from their 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:

↳ Computer and electronic product manufacturing → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 21 meetings (avg 12, +83%).

↳ Telecommunications → House of Commons: 14 meetings (avg 21, -32%).

↳ Telecommunications → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 10 meetings (avg 15, -34%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Canadian Corps of Commissionaires → Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC): 6 meetings (avg 1, +454%).

↳ Secure Future Research Ltd DBA ControlAI → House of Commons: 5 meetings (avg 6, -20%).

↳ TELUS Corporation → House of Commons: 4 meetings (avg 5, -21%).

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:

↳ Computer and electronic product manufacturing → Economic Development: 30 meetings (avg 19, +59%).

↳ Computer and electronic product manufacturing → Defence: 27 meetings (avg 15, +84%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Amazon Web Services Canada, Inc. → Defence: 11 meetings (avg 7, +61%).

↳ TELESAT CANADA → Defence: 10 meetings (avg 13, -22%).

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 Computing and IT services → Jacquie Manchevsky (Shared Services Canada (SSC)), Software → Juan Sarmiento (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)) and Computer and electronic product manufacturing → Cedric Devdeux-Delorme (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were BorderPass → Juan Sarmiento (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)), Octasic Inc. → Cedric Devdeux-Delorme (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Ontario Child Sexual Exploitation Investigators Association (OCSEIA) → Roble Osoble (House of Commons).