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

• Lobbying activity totalled 178 meetings in July 2026, down from a 12-month average of 254.4.
• The biggest moves were in Metal manufacturing and Chemical manufacturing.
• Heico 2004 Member, Inc., Pliteq Inc. were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in July 2026 Data

Trade Tensions Shape Manufacturing Lobbying

The escalation of Canada-U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs in late July and into August 2026 aligns with a notable uptick in lobbying from metal manufacturing interests, including efforts by the CANADIAN FOUNDRY ASSOCIATION (CFA), Heico 2004 Member, Inc., and JFE Shoji Power. These direct actions by both governments have resulted in efforts by Canadian manufacturers seeking relief from increased costs and disrupted market access, prompting formal engagement with federal stakeholders such as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Finance Canada (FIN).

📎 Canada Announces 50% Tariffs On Hundreds Of U.S. Products

Wood Products Sector Responds to Tariffs and Safeguards

Disruption in the wood products market, owing to persistent softwood lumber duties and Canada’s imposition of new safeguard tariffs on imports, coincides with a spike in related advocacy activity this summer, including meetings between the BC Lumber Trade Council and the Prime Minister's Office as well as the Privy Council Office. Sector advocacy, highlighted by the Canadian Wood Products Alliance’s discussions with Finance Canada, has focused on government actions—such as orders in council—to protect manufacturers facing import surges and ongoing U.S. trade penalties.

📎 Tariffs Are Reshaping the 2026 Wood Products Market

Building Code Changes Drive Policy Engagement

The nationwide adoption of the National Building Code 2025 throughout 2026 is driving focused lobbying from construction supply chains, including building materials and HVAC manufacturers such as the Canadian Steel Producers Association and the Forest Products Association of Canada. These groups, in meetings with Environment and Climate Change Canada and the House of Commons, are seeking clarity and influence as the code’s new requirements on greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilience affect compliance, standards, and market competitiveness.

📎 National Building Code 2025: Why Adoption Matters in 2026

Push for Federal Regulatory Modernization Matches Red Tape Discussions

Canada’s government advanced a fresh wave of regulatory modernization initiatives in summer 2026, coinciding with manufacturer lobbying from the Canadian Coatings Association with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), as well as the Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association with Health Canada, on ‘cabinet directive on regulation’ topics. The reforms, intended to reduce compliance burdens and align with international standards, have particular relevance for sectors like life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and electronics aiming to streamline product approvals.

📎 Canada Accelerates Regulatory Modernization

Ottawa’s Emergency Support Funds Come Amid Heightened Sector Lobbying

Federal support packages and investment funds for key manufacturing sectors were introduced in response to tariff shocks and supply chain disruptions during July-August 2026, reflecting concerns raised by organisations such as the Canadian Steel Producers Association, Johnson Electric Canada, and JFE Shoji Power in meetings with Environment and Climate Change Canada, the House of Commons, and Finance Canada. This financial assistance closely mirrors sector appeals for relief and security, with program design and eligibility criteria emerging as recurring points in advocacy efforts.

📎 Canada Announces 50% Tariffs On Hundreds Of U.S. Products

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 178 meetings in July 2026, down from a 12-month average of 254. The most active industry was Metal manufacturing, while Wood and paper product manufacturing fell below its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Electrical equipment, appliance and component manufacturing logged 25 meetings, up from an average of 18, and Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing logged 8 meetings, up from an average of 5.

On the quieter side, Apparel, leather and textile manufacturing had 1 meetings, down from an average of 5, Chemical manufacturing had 4 meetings, down from an average of 18, Cement, concrete and building materials manufacturing had 10 meetings, down from an average of 24, Metal manufacturing had 56 meetings, down from an average of 80, Machinery manufacturing had 4 meetings, down from an average of 14, Furniture and related product manufacturing had no lobbying meetings this month, down from an average of 1, Miscellaneous manufacturing had 2 meetings, down from an average of 5, Chemical manufacturing (basic) had 10 meetings, down from an average of 24, Cosmetics, cleaning compound and toiletries had no lobbying meetings this month, down from an average of 1, Plastics product manufacturing had no lobbying meetings this month, down from an average of 2, and HVAC and refrigeration equipment manufacturing had 1 meetings, down 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 2026-07

↳ Wood and paper product manufacturing has been trending downward in lobbying over the past year.

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

↳ Electrical equipment, appliance and component manufacturing displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

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

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

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

↳ Miscellaneous manufacturing 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 Heico 2004 Member, Inc., Pliteq Inc., and JFE Shoji Power.

On the quieter side, Heidelberg Materials, and ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P. all pulled back from their 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:

↳ Metal manufacturing → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 15 meetings (avg 19, -20%).

↳ Wood and paper product manufacturing → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 12 meetings (avg 8, +52%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Element5 → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 6 meetings (avg 2, +279%).

↳ Heico 2004 Member, Inc. → Privy Council Office (PCO): 4 meetings (avg 0, +700%).

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:

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

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Heico 2004 Member, Inc. → International Trade: 13 meetings (avg 2, +420%).

↳ Forest Products Association of Canada → Forestry: 13 meetings (avg 10, +32%).

↳ Pliteq Inc. → Employment and Training: 10 meetings (avg 1, +650%).

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 Metal manufacturing → Patrick Hum (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Wood and paper product manufacturing → Yasmin Atassi (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Wood and paper product manufacturing → Lisa Xie (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Element5 → Yasmin Atassi (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Element5 → Lisa Xie (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P. → Patrick Hum (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)).