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 — Manufacturing, 2026-03

• Overall, lobbying across this channel's industries totalled 166 meetings in March 2026, compared to a 12-month average of 215.4 (-23%). This represents a notable decline.
• The organizations with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include: Evraz Inc. NA Canada.
• The organizations with the most notable decreases include: Heidelberg Materials, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, CEMENT ASSOCIATION OF CANADA.
• The individual most lobbied by Metal manufacturing was Philip Jennings at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).

📰 Real-World Implications — Manufacturing, 2026-03

New Lobbying Regulations Create Short-Term Uncertainty in Manufacturing Advocacy

The significant drop in lobbying activity across manufacturing can be attributed in part to the new federal rules, effective January 2026, that require more businesses to register as in-house lobbyists under a much lower activity threshold. This shift has led many organizations to review internal practices and adapt to the new regulatory environment, causing a temporary decrease and volatility in lobbying as compliance and reporting processes are updated.

📎 Departmental plan 2026–27 - Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada · The New “Significant”: Lower Federal Threshold Will Require More Businesses and Organizations To Register In-House Lobbyists

Surge in Metal Manufacturing Lobbying Reflects Focus on Economic Development and Trade

Significant increases in lobbying related to metal manufacturing, especially towards the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development, likely mirror federal priorities on advancing critical minerals, industrial decarbonization, and securing supply chains for clean technologies. High activity from companies like ArcelorMittal Dofasco and Evraz Inc. aligns with budgetary incentives and policy moves to bolster steel and EV supply chains amid global competition.

📎 Prime Minister Carney unveils Canada's new automotive strategy to protect jobs and position our country as a global leader in next-generation vehicle manufacturing · CME’s 2026 Ontario Pre-Budget Submission

Declining Lobbying in Cement and Chemicals Signals Immediate Regulatory or Market Slowdown

Dramatic declines in advocacy from cement, concrete, and chemical manufacturers are likely linked to the end of consultations or announcements around major industrial and environmental regulations in late 2025. The shifting landscape in carbon pricing, output-based pricing requests, and recent open letters from the industry to government indicate that industry is either awaiting government response or recalibrating strategy in light of policy changes.

📎 Letter to Government: Removing the Carbon Tax from Electricity Bills and Reviewing the Output-Based Pricing System · How Government Initiatives Are Driving Manufacturing Transformation in Canada

Spike in HVAC, Medical Equipment, and Machinery Lobbying Targets Innovation Incentives and Resilient Supply Chains

Significant increases in lobbying in sectors like HVAC, medical equipment, and machinery point to a strategic push to access federal grants for clean and digital manufacturing, as well as to ensure supply chain reliability. Recent Programs such as the Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program (GIFMP) and investment tax credits have led SMEs and multinationals to seek government support for modernization and automation.

📎 How Government Initiatives Are Driving Manufacturing Transformation in Canada

Event-Driven Volatility Likely from Budget Announcements and Sector-Specific Programs

The irregular, event-driven lobbying activity in basic chemicals, cement, and textile sectors points to intense bursts of advocacy around high-impact policy changes such as pre-budget consultations or targeted announcements (e.g., support for clean tech, anti-dumping measures in metals, and workforce development policy), after which activity recedes. Organizations are responding tactically to tight windows of opportunity for influence.

📎 CME’s 2026 Ontario Pre-Budget Submission · Lobbying on Manufacturing - Ottawa (March 2026 edition)

Section A: Lobbying Activity by Industry

This section compares, by NAICS industry, the lobbying activity in Ottawa last month to its historical average.

Overall, lobbying across this channel's industries totalled 166 meetings in March 2026, compared to a 12-month average of 215.4 (-23%). This represents a notable decline.

Apparel, leather and textile manufacturing had no lobbying meetings this month, a stark departure from its 12-month average of 2.8.

Chemical manufacturing saw a notable decline in lobbying activity — 12 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 16 (-25%).

↳ Compared to the same month in prior years (avg 9.7), this is a notable increase (+24%).

Cement, concrete and building materials manufacturing saw a significant decline in lobbying activity — 8 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 23 (-65%).

Machinery manufacturing saw a notable decline in lobbying activity — 8 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 11 (-27%).

↳ Compared to the same month in prior years (avg 5.3), this is a significant surge (+50%).

Furniture and related product manufacturing had no lobbying meetings this month, a stark departure from its 12-month average of 0.9.

Miscellaneous manufacturing saw a notable decline in lobbying activity — 4 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 5.7 (-29%).

↳ Compared to the same month in prior years (avg 2.3), this is a significant surge (+71%).

Chemical manufacturing (basic) saw a notable decline in lobbying activity — 11 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 20.4 (-46%).

Cosmetics, cleaning compound and toiletries had no lobbying meetings this month, a stark departure from its 12-month average of 1.2.

HVAC and refrigeration equipment manufacturing experienced a notable increase in lobbying activity — 3 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 2.1 (+44%).

↳ Compared to the same month in prior years (avg 0.7), this is a significant surge (+350%).

Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing experienced a notable increase in lobbying activity — 4 meetings vs. a 12-month average of 3.1 (+30%).

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 2026-03

Metal manufacturing ended March 2026 with a residual of +33.4, well above its expected trend.

↳ Metal manufacturing has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Cement, concrete and building materials manufacturing displayed high volatility in its lobbying pattern, suggesting irregular or event-driven activity.

↳ Chemical manufacturing (basic) has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Chemical manufacturing (basic) displayed high volatility in its lobbying pattern, suggesting irregular or event-driven activity.

↳ Chemical manufacturing has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Chemical manufacturing displayed high volatility in its lobbying pattern, suggesting irregular or event-driven activity.

↳ Apparel, leather and textile manufacturing has shown a broadly upward trend in lobbying residuals over the past year.

↳ Apparel, leather and textile manufacturing displayed high volatility in its lobbying pattern, suggesting irregular or event-driven activity.

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: Evraz Inc. NA Canada.

↳ Evraz Inc. NA Canada: 8 meetings vs. 2.2 average (+269%).

The organizations with the most notable decreases include: Heidelberg Materials, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, CEMENT ASSOCIATION OF CANADA.

↳ Heidelberg Materials: 1 meetings vs. 10.2 average (-90%).

↳ Chemistry Industry Association of Canada: 1 meetings vs. 5.8 average (-83%).

↳ CEMENT ASSOCIATION OF CANADA: 2 meetings vs. 6.2 average (-68%).

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

Notable industry → institution pairs this month:

↳ Metal manufacturing → Innovation, Science and Eco...: 23 meetings (notable increase vs. avg 16.6, +39%).

↳ Electrical equipment, appli... → Innovation, Science and Eco...: 7 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 4.4, +58%).

Notable organization → institution pairs this month:

↳ ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P. → Innovation, Science and Eco...: 12 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 7.1, +69%).

↳ Goodyear Canada Inc. → Innovation, Science and Eco...: 4 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 1.2, +243%).

↳ J.D. Irving, Limited → Finance Canada (FIN): 4 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 1.2, +243%).

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

Notable industry → subject pairs this month:

↳ Metal manufacturing → International Trade: 36 meetings (notable decline vs. avg 54, -33%).

↳ Metal manufacturing → Economic Development: 35 meetings (notable increase vs. avg 28.2, +24%).

Notable organization → subject pairs this month:

↳ ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P. → Economic Development: 13 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 3.4, +280%).

↳ ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P. → International Trade: 10 meetings (notable decline vs. avg 19.7, -49%).

↳ Evraz Inc. NA Canada → Budget: 8 meetings (significant surge vs. avg 2.1, +284%).

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

The individual most lobbied by Metal manufacturing was Philip Jennings at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).