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 292 meetings in April 2026, up from a 12-month average of 216.2.
• The biggest moves were in Software and Security and investigation services.
• Internet Service Provider Coalition, Snap Inc. were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in April 2026 Data

Federal AI Compute Fund Expansion Coincides with Intense Lobbying

Ottawa’s announcement of $66 million for 44 Canadian SMEs through the AI Compute Access Fund in May 2026 comes amid heightened lobbying from Google Canada Corporation with the House of Commons, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), and the Prime Minister's Office, as well as by Digital Trust Canada engaging with both the House of Commons and Transport Canada, on national AI policy, AI compute access, and commercialization. The fund aims to boost capabilities in sectors including manufacturing and cybersecurity, reflecting strong industry pressure for public investments to close AI infrastructure gaps.

📎 BetaKit — Feds announce $66 million for 44 businesses through AI Compute Access Fund

TELUS and Ottawa’s Sovereign AI Infrastructure Cluster

The newly launched partnership between the federal government and TELUS to build a BC AI data centre cluster aligns with a surge in digital infrastructure lobbying, particularly from Rogers Communications Inc. and TekSavvy Solutions Inc. on spectrum auctions and competition under the Telecommunications Act. This government-private sector collaboration, with additional attention from Google Canada Corporation engaging the House of Commons on artificial intelligence regulation, seeks to reinforce Canada’s regulatory sovereignty over data and AI compute resources just as lobbying around fibre-to-the-premises and wholesale services peaks, with further input from Digital Trust Canada through meetings with the House of Commons and Transport Canada.

📎 BCBusiness.ca — Telus' BC AI Data Centre Cluster

5G Spectrum Auction Spurs Industry Action

Canada’s $415 million residual spectrum auction in February 2026, where TELUS was the largest acquirer, corresponds with increased lobbying from Rogers Communications Inc., TELESAT CANADA, and TekSavvy Solutions Inc. regarding rules for spectrum licensing and rural broadband deployment––much of it directed to the House of Commons and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). The spectrum win is expected to accelerate 5G coverage and digital competition, sectors with persistent above-baseline lobbying—especially from telecommunications interests—leading into spring.

📎 Telus Outspends Rogers and Bell in Ottawa’s $415M 5G Airwave Selloff

Telecom Lobbying Surge Follows Major Digital Infrastructure Investments

A pronounced rise in telecommunications lobbying in April 2026—marked by activity from Rogers Communications Inc. and Google Canada Corporation related to spectrum policy, fibre access, and data centres—coincides with government announcements on sovereign AI infrastructure and competitive spectrum allocation discussed with the House of Commons and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). This pattern suggests the sector is actively shaping regulatory and funding frameworks at a time of significant federal technology investment.

📎 BCBusiness.ca — Telus' BC AI Data Centre Cluster · Telus Outspends Rogers and Bell in Ottawa’s $415M 5G Airwave Selloff

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 292 meetings in April 2026, up from a 12-month average of 216. 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 16 meetings, up from an average of 10, Software logged 92 meetings, up from an average of 60, Digital media and social networks logged 23 meetings, up from an average of 11, Computing and IT services logged 53 meetings, up from an average of 42, and Security and investigation services logged 19 meetings, up from an average of 6.

Computer and electronic product manufacturing had 11 meetings, down from an average of 22.

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 2026-04

Software saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in April 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 has been trending downward in lobbying over the past year.

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

↳ 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.

↳ 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 Internet Service Provider Coalition, Snap Inc., Amazon Web Services Canada, Inc., Acosys Consulting Services, and Google Canada Corporation.

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:

↳ Telecommunications → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 30 meetings (avg 19, +55%).

↳ Software → House of Commons: 24 meetings (avg 15, +65%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Internet Service Provider Coalition → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 9 meetings (avg 1, +800%).

↳ Amazon Web Services Canada, Inc. → House of Commons: 7 meetings (avg 3, +127%).

↳ Secure Future Research Ltd DBA ControlAI → House of Commons: 7 meetings (avg 4, +71%).

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 → Science and Technology: 49 meetings (avg 29, +67%).

↳ Software → Industry: 39 meetings (avg 20, +93%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ TELESAT CANADA → Defence: 15 meetings (avg 12, +22%).

↳ TELESAT CANADA → International Relations: 15 meetings (avg 12, +23%).

↳ TELESAT CANADA → Telecommunications: 15 meetings (avg 12, +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 Telecommunications → Joelle Montminy (Canadian Heritage (PCH)), Telecommunications → Tim Logan (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Telecommunications → Chris Padfield (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Cohere → Anson Duran (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Facebook Canada Ltd. → Kathy Borrelli (House of Commons) and BorderPass → Juan Sarmiento (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)).