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 245 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 215.9.
• The biggest moves were in Chemical manufacturing (basic) and Machinery manufacturing.
• Air Products Canada Ltd., Canada Goose Inc. were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in February 2026 Data

Spring Economic Update Leads to Surge in Manufacturing Lobbying

The February 2026 Spring Economic Update prioritized investments in domestic manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and strategic innovation funding. This coincided with an uptick in lobbying, especially from metal, chemical, and machinery manufacturers such as Algoma, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, and JFE Shoji Power, who engaged institutions like Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the House of Commons, seeking pre-budget recommendations and urging government action on supply chain disruptions and tariff mitigation. Patterns of advocacy reflect sector groups’ heightened response to volatile trade conditions and competitiveness challenges.

📎 Spring Economic Update 2026 - Canada Strong For All · A Strong Foundation for Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Growth

Buy Canadian Policy Sparks Interest in Public Procurement Among Manufacturers

The government’s implementation of the Buy Canadian Policy in February 2026 prompted intensified lobbying from metal manufacturing organizations, such as ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P. and Algoma, directly engaging institutions like Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Finance Canada (FIN) to ensure domestic materials, especially Canadian steel, are prioritized in procurement contracts. This policy shift comes amid a strategic push from industry actors, such as ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P., for responses to US tariffs and positions local suppliers, including Longboard Architectural Products Inc., to benefit as trade tensions persist.

📎 Government of Canada implements Buy Canadian Policy to strengthen Canada’s economy and support homegrown industries · Spring Economic Update 2026: How Federal Policy Is Shaping Manufacturing Decisions

Automotive and Clean Tech Investment Spurs Machinery Sector Lobbying

February saw Canada unveil a revised automotive strategy emphasizing zero-emission vehicle production and clean technology investment tax credits. Machinery and electrical equipment manufacturers, including Siemens Canada Limited and PTI Transformers Inc, responded with increased lobbying for investment incentives and adaptation funding, particularly aimed at regulatory clarity surrounding clean electricity rules, engaging with institutions such as Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Finance Canada (FIN). These moves coincide with the federal push for decarbonization and supply chain investment in the manufacturing sector.

📎 Canada revises its automotive strategy with a view of ... - Dentons

Expanded Grants and Tax Credits Align with Decarbonization Lobbying

February 2026 saw new manufacturing grants and tax credit programs targeting clean fuels, carbon capture, and digital advancement. These policy developments coincide with lobbying from Air Products Canada Ltd., Heidelberg Materials, and Advanced Biofuels Canada, including meetings with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), advocating for carbon capture investment tax credits and access to strategic innovation funding. The sector’s pursuit of decarbonization aligns closely with the government’s expanded funding initiatives for advanced manufacturing.

📎 Top Canadian Manufacturing Grants and Tax Credits for 2026 · Canada Manufacturing & Industry Grants 2026 | $3.1B+ Advanced Manufacturing Funding Programs Guide

Trade and Supply Chain Disruptions Drive Advocacy for Infrastructure Reliability

Rail labour disruptions and heightened US tariff negotiations are coinciding with notable lobbying efforts from the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada and the Canadian Steel Producers Association, alongside interlocutors at the House of Commons and Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, for trade and supply chain reliability. Manufacturers such as Dow Chemical Canada ULC are urging government action through meetings focused on CUSMA, TPP, and infrastructure investment, as recent policy and budget measures begin to address the fallout from international disputes and supply chain instability.

📎 Senate committee urges Ottawa to curb rail, port labour disruptions

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 245 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 216. The most active industry was Metal manufacturing, while Chemical manufacturing (basic) rose above its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Apparel, leather and textile manufacturing logged 20 meetings, up from an average of 4, Machinery manufacturing logged 31 meetings, up from an average of 11, Electrical equipment, appliance and component manufacturing logged 21 meetings, up from an average of 13, and Chemical manufacturing (basic) logged 43 meetings, up from an average of 20.

On the quieter side, Cement, concrete and building materials manufacturing had 10 meetings, down from an average of 25, Furniture and related product manufacturing had no lobbying meetings this month, down from an average of 1, Miscellaneous manufacturing had 3 meetings, down from an average of 6, Plastics product manufacturing had 1 meetings, down from an average of 2, HVAC and refrigeration equipment manufacturing had no lobbying meetings this month, down from an average of 2, and Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing had 2 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 2026-02

Metal manufacturing saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in February 2026.

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

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

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

↳ Chemical manufacturing (basic) has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

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

↳ Apparel, leather and textile manufacturing has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Apparel, leather and textile manufacturing displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Cement, concrete and building materials manufacturing has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Cement, concrete and building materials 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 Air Products Canada Ltd., Canada Goose Inc., Wuxly, and Siemens Canada Limited.

On the quieter side, Heidelberg Materials pulled back from its 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:

↳ Chemical manufacturing (basic) → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 13 meetings (avg 4, +232%).

↳ Apparel, leather and textile manufacturing → House of Commons: 10 meetings (avg 1, +606%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P. → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 10 meetings (avg 6, +54%).

↳ Air Products Canada Ltd. → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 8 meetings (avg 2, +269%).

↳ Canada Goose Inc. → House of Commons: 8 meetings (avg 1, +540%).

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:

↳ Chemical manufacturing (basic) → Environment: 42 meetings (avg 18, +133%).

↳ Chemical manufacturing (basic) → Industry: 36 meetings (avg 17, +112%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Air Products Canada Ltd. → Environment: 27 meetings (avg 9, +197%).

↳ Air Products Canada Ltd. → Taxation and Finance: 27 meetings (avg 9, +206%).

↳ Air Products Canada Ltd. → Industry: 27 meetings (avg 9, +197%).

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 → Yasmin Atassi (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Metal manufacturing → Charles Vincent (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Metal manufacturing → Mélanie Joly (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P. → Charles Vincent (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P. → Stephanie Tanton (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Canada Goose Inc. → Julie Groleau (House of Commons).