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 240 meetings in April 2026, up from a 12-month average of 200.6.
• The biggest moves were in Computer and electronic product manufacturing and Software.
• Internet Service Provider Coalition, Snap Inc. were more active than usual.

Real-World Context — ICT & Cybersecurity, April 2026

Lobbying Surges Amid Push for AI Regulation and Sovereign AI Strategy

Record numbers of meetings in the software and digital sectors coincide with Canada’s intensified development of AI policy, notably the proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) and the national AI Sovereign Compute Strategy announced in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement. Lobbying records point to industry engagement on topics such as AI regulation, federal investments in sovereign compute infrastructure, and frameworks to govern advanced generative AI—grounded by the government’s recent rollout of a public consultation on these issues.

📎 Government of Canada proposes Artificial Intelligence and Data Act in Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022 (Bill C-27) · Canada consults on AI guardrails and compute infrastructure

Telecoms and ISPs Intensify Advocacy on Broadband, Wholesale Access, and Copyright Reform

There was a marked increase in meetings between telecommunications groups—including the Internet Service Provider Coalition—and government officials about rural broadband expansion, wholesale internet access, and updates to the Copyright Act. This comes in the wake of high-profile CRTC proceedings on affordable internet and a new CRTC decision requiring large providers to open up fibre networks, alongside recent government commitments to rural connectivity and the ongoing review of broadcast and copyright policy.

📎 CRTC orders major providers to open access to fibre networks across Canada · Government of Canada launches consultation on a modern copyright framework · Canada to invest in rural broadband and connectivity

Increased Lobbying on Online Harms, Privacy, and Youth Safety Follows New Legislation

A spike in lobbying involving software and digital media organizations clearly aligns with the tabling of the Online Harms Act (Bill C-63) and consultations on a possible Youth Privacy Code. Official records show direct advocacy around online content regulation, youth privacy, age assurance, and anti-misinformation frameworks, matching the government’s multi-pronged approach to online safety announced in February 2024.

📎 Canada introduces Online Harms Act · Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada launches consultation on youth privacy

Security and Defence Tech Lobbying Intensifies Amid Policy Shifts on Dual-Use Technologies and Arctic Security

Security and investigation services showed marked lobbying growth, with records referencing advocacy around defence-related space systems, dual-use communications, and Arctic security. This trend follows the government’s updated Defence Policy (Our North, Strong and Free), which stresses the role of new technologies and commercial partnerships in protecting the Canadian Arctic and advancing NORAD modernization.

📎 Government of Canada releases new Defence Policy update · Arctic security drives new innovation and dual-use technology collaboration in Canada

Digital Media and Social Networks Seek Clarity on Content Rules Amid Broadcasting Reform

Rising lobbying by digital media and social platforms, and explicit advocacy on broadcasting laws, aligns with current debates on the modernization of broadcasting policy following passage of the Online Streaming Act (Bill C-11). The Canadian Heritage Committee’s reviews and forthcoming CRTC regulatory frameworks for online content providers have become focal points for industry engagement, as shown by lobbying around the regulation of online content, copyright, and taxation.

📎 CRTC launches next phase of online streaming regulation consultations · Canadian Heritage Committee continues study of broadcasting and telecommunications issues

Section A: 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 240 meetings in April 2026, up from a 12-month average of 201. The most active industry was Telecommunications, while Computer and electronic product manufacturing fell below 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 63 meetings, up from an average of 49, Digital media and social networks logged 23 meetings, up from an average of 11, and Security and investigation services logged 16 meetings, up from an average of 6.

Computer and electronic product manufacturing had 5 meetings, down from an average of 20.

Section B: 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 A and B 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.

↳ 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.

↳ 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.

↳ 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 C: 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 D: 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: 17 meetings (avg 10, +74%).

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%).

↳ Google Canada Corporation → House of Commons: 6 meetings (avg 3, +85%).

Section E: 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: 36 meetings (avg 29, +26%).

↳ Software → Science and Technology: 33 meetings (avg 25, +34%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

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

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

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

Section F: 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 → Tim Logan (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Telecommunications → Joelle Montminy (Canadian Heritage (PCH)) 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)), Internet Service Provider Coalition → Maria Morley (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Internet Service Provider Coalition → Manuel Tomic (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)).