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 350 meetings in May 2026, up from a 12-month average of 237.6.
• The biggest moves were in Software and Digital media and social networks.
• Facebook Canada Ltd., Canadian Corps of Commissionaires were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in May 2026 Data

Canada Bolsters Privacy Protections with Bill C-36

In June 2026, Canada announced Bill C-36, aiming to modernize privacy laws with a focus on transparency for automated decision systems and enhanced data protections. The move closely follows a record surge in May lobbying by organizations such as Apple Canada Inc, Cisco Systems Canada Co., and the Entertainment Software Association of Canada, who met with the House of Commons, Prime Minister's Office (PMO), and Canadian Heritage (PCH) to address digital sovereignty and innovation. These organizations cited privacy reform and data control as key advocacy topics alongside government consultations.

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

National AI Strategy Spurs Lobbying on Sovereign Tech

The unveiling of Canada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in June 2026, supported by $2 billion in funding, coincides with intensified lobbying from digital and software sectors in May, including efforts by Nakisa Inc., Cohere, and CommunityLogiq Software Inc. Lobbyists pushed for AI procurement clarity, domestic industry support, and 'Buy Canadian' policies, all reflected in the strategy's focus on sovereign infrastructure and job creation, with discussions involving Public Services and Procurement Canada and the House of Commons. Government-industry dialogue referenced AI governance and domestic capability.

📎 Canada unveils national AI strategy: Key commitments, regulatory gaps ... · Carney's AI strategy promises over $2B in funding, aims to create ...

Digital Sovereignty Debates Shape Industry Engagement

Canada’s renewed focus on digital sovereignty and AI governance published in late 2025 and early 2026 was mirrored in lobbying activity by organizations such as Cohere meeting with the House of Commons and Public Safety Canada, Digital Trust Canada with the House of Commons, and the Entertainment Software Association of Canada engaging with the Prime Minister's Office during May. The government’s commitment to domestic, secure infrastructure and data localization drove policy debates on cloud sovereignty and trade, with Cisco Systems Canada Co. also seeking dialogue with the Prime Minister's Office. Lobbyists referenced international competitiveness, open data flows, and regulatory clarity across meetings.

📎 Canada’s 2026 privacy priorities: data sovereignty, open banking and AI

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 350 meetings in May 2026, up from a 12-month average of 238. The most active industry was Software, while Computing and IT services rose above its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Computer and electronic product manufacturing logged 41 meetings, up from an average of 24, Software logged 114 meetings, up from an average of 68, Digital media and social networks logged 42 meetings, up from an average of 14, Computing and IT services logged 69 meetings, up from an average of 46, and Security and investigation services logged 24 meetings, up from an average of 8.

Telecommunications had 50 meetings, down from an average of 67.

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 2026-05

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

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

Digital media and social networks saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in May 2026.

↳ 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.

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

↳ 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.

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

↳ Telecommunications 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 Facebook Canada Ltd., Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, Amazon Web Services Canada, Inc., Secure Future Research Ltd DBA ControlAI, and Xplore Inc..

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: 31 meetings (avg 17, +82%).

↳ Digital media and social networks → House of Commons: 21 meetings (avg 5, +313%).

↳ Security and investigation services → House of Commons: 19 meetings (avg 4, +430%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Facebook Canada Ltd. → House of Commons: 15 meetings (avg 3, +445%).

↳ Secure Future Research Ltd DBA ControlAI → House of Commons: 14 meetings (avg 5, +167%).

↳ Canadian Corps of Commissionaires → House of Commons: 12 meetings (avg 2, +526%).

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:

↳ Railroad rolling stock manufacturing → Telecommunications: 70 meetings (avg 8, +833%).

↳ Railroad rolling stock manufacturing → Intellectual Property: 70 meetings (avg 7, +855%).

↳ Software → Science and Technology: 70 meetings (avg 34, +107%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Hitachi Rail GTS Canada Inc. → Intellectual Property: 70 meetings (avg 7, +855%).

↳ Hitachi Rail GTS Canada Inc. → Telecommunications: 70 meetings (avg 8, +833%).

↳ Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc. → Privacy and Access to Information: 33 meetings (avg 5, +571%).

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 Security and investigation services → Roble Osoble (House of Commons), Telecommunications → Chris Padfield (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Computing and IT services → Stephane Blanchard (Correctional Service of Canada (CSC)).

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), BorderPass → Juan Sarmiento (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)) and TELESAT CANADA → Matt Hall (Prime Minister's Office (PMO)).