Lobbying on ICT & Cybersecurity - Ottawa (March 2026 edition)
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 273 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 181.5.
- The biggest moves were in Software and Computing and IT services.
- Secure Future Research Ltd DBA ControlAI, Salesforce.com Canada Corporation were more active than usual.
Section A: The Themes Hidden in February 2026 Data
New Federal Cybersecurity Law Drives Telecom Lobbying Surge
The enactment of Bill C-8 in June 2026 directly affects telecommunications providers, with new compliance and reporting demands tied to critical infrastructure security. February saw a notable rise in lobbying about telecom regulation and competition, with TELUS Corporation and Bell Canada engaging Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), and Qorsa Corp. communicating with National Defence (DND), aligning with industry's response to the fresh legislative mandate and security priorities.
📎 Canada enacts cybersecurity legislation to protect critical ...
Threat Assessment Highlights AI Risks Amid Record Lobbying
The National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025–2026 signaled heightened risks from AI-driven attacks and supply chain vulnerabilities. This coincides with a spike in lobbying by Dell Technologies Canada and Google Canada Corporation regarding AI adoption and digital innovation, and by Bell Canada regarding broadband policy, with meetings involving the House of Commons and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, suggesting industry is keen to influence security frameworks as cyber incidents grow more complex.
📎 News and events - Canadian Centre for Cyber Security
Industry Report Spurs Lobbying in Software and Digital Media
January's State of Cybersecurity in Canada report spotlighted deepfake fraud and AI-driven threats, naming software, digital media, and video games as sectors of rising concern. These same sectors logged outsized increases in lobbying activity, with the Entertainment Software Association of Canada and Epic Games engaging with Canadian Heritage and the Prime Minister's Office, respectively, while Google Canada Corporation communicated with both the House of Commons and the Prime Minister's Office. Initiatives around copyright, digital education, and online safety echoed the report's themes.
Privacy and Data Flow Reforms Trigger Industry Response
Ongoing debate over privacy legislation and cloud policy reforms saw lobbying surge around data flows, lawful access, and obligations on carriers, with Salesforce.com Canada Corporation, Amazon Web Services Canada, Inc., Bell Canada, and TELUS Corporation engaging with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Public Safety Canada. This activity comes as parliament continues revising privacy standards, with industry seeking clarity on new operational and cross-border requirements.
📎 Canada parliament passes cybersecurity bill amid privacy concerns ...
AI Adoption Accelerates with Policy Advocacy
Government initiatives supporting Canadian AI platforms coincided with lobbying from Cohere at both the House of Commons and Public Services and Procurement Canada for reforms in AI procurement and policies. Stakeholders, including Dell Technologies Canada in dialogue with the Privy Council Office, advocated for measures enhancing digital sovereignty and competitiveness, showing alignment with ministries' push for resilient domestic AI capabilities.
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 273 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 182. 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 15 meetings, up from an average of 8, Software logged 107 meetings, up from an average of 46, Digital media and social networks logged 15 meetings, up from an average of 8, Computing and IT services logged 48 meetings, up from an average of 38, and Security and investigation services logged 6 meetings, up from an average of 3.
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
Software saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in February 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.
↳ Broadcast media production and distribution has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.
↳ Telecommunications has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.
↳ 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.
↳ Digital media and social networks has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.
↳ Digital media and social networks 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 Secure Future Research Ltd DBA ControlAI, Salesforce.com Canada Corporation, Facebook Canada Ltd., and TELESAT CANADA.
On the quieter side, TELUS Corporation 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 9, +378%).
↳ Software → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 17 meetings (avg 8, +106%).
The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:
↳ Secure Future Research Ltd DBA ControlAI → House of Commons: 25 meetings (avg 2, +1054%).
↳ Facebook Canada Ltd. → House of Commons: 9 meetings (avg 1, +731%).
↳ Rogers Communications Inc. → House of Commons: 8 meetings (avg 4, +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:
↳ Software → Research and Development: 55 meetings (avg 8, +553%).
↳ Software → Science and Technology: 50 meetings (avg 23, +121%).
The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:
↳ Secure Future Research Ltd DBA ControlAI → Research and Development: 31 meetings (avg 3, +854%).
↳ Secure Future Research Ltd DBA ControlAI → National Security/Security: 31 meetings (avg 3, +854%).
↳ Secure Future Research Ltd DBA ControlAI → Foreign Affairs: 31 meetings (avg 3, +854%).
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 Telecommunications → Matt Hall (Prime Minister's Office (PMO)), Telecommunications → Chris Padfield (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Computing and IT services → Mark Schaan (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)).
Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were TELESAT CANADA → Matt Hall (Prime Minister's Office (PMO)), Salesforce.com Canada Corporation → Mark Schaan (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Facebook Canada Ltd. → Dominque O'Rourke (House of Commons).
