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

Automotive Policy Changes Mirror Manufacturer Demands

The federal government’s revised automotive strategy, focusing more flexibly on electric vehicle adoption targets and reintroducing purchase incentives for Canadian-made EVs, closely aligns with sustained industry lobbying from Air Products Canada Ltd. and PTI Transformers Inc. Recent advocacy by these organizations, including meetings with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Finance Canada (FIN), concentrated on investment tax credits and programs that favor domestic manufacturing and appears to correspond with these major policy shifts.

📎 Canada's 2026 EV Strategy | BLG · Canada revises its automotive strategy with a view of ... - Dentons

Trade Pressures Drive Surge in Metal and Chemical Lobbying

Persistent US tariffs continue to pressure Canadian producers, spurring an uptick in lobbying efforts from the metals and chemical sectors, including Algoma and the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, for support measures and strategic funds. Recent lobbying, such as Algoma's discussions with the Prime Minister's Office and the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada's outreach to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), centered on countermeasures and support for trade-impacted industries coincides with ongoing government negotiations and policies addressing trade exposure.

📎 MANUFACTURING SECTOR CANADA’S AUTOMOTIVE TRADE DEPENDENCE IN TARIFF ... · Outlook - Bank of Canada

Manufacturing Sales Growth Linked to Funding Advocacy

A notable jump in February’s manufacturing sales, especially in transportation equipment, metals, and machinery, coincides with intense lobbying by Advanced Biofuels Canada and Trident Pump Inc. with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada for public investment and innovation funding. The sector’s performance rebound is temporally aligned with government announcements targeting supply chain reliability and competitive grant programs, further reflected in advocacy from Johnson Electric Canada and JFE Shoji Power.

📎 Monthly Survey of Manufacturing, February 2026 - Statistics Canada

Industrial Realignment Amid Calls for Export Credit and Adaptation

Canadian manufacturers, notably in textiles, chemicals, and steel, including Algoma and Siemens Canada Limited, have increased lobbying, with meetings at Finance Canada and the Prime Minister's Office, for export financing and risk reduction as tariff uncertainty persists. This advocacy coincides with a sector-wide push toward trade and supply chain diversification, as reflected in February’s industrial property and market trends.

📎 Canada Industrial - marcusmillichap.com

Improved Business Sentiment Parallels Policy and Lobbying Patterns

Canada’s manufacturing sector experienced a notable upswing in optimism and order books in February, even as export markets remained hampered by US trade tensions. This recovery coincides with organizations’ persistent lobbying for government support targeting investment and competitiveness, as seen in recent efforts by Algoma and JFE Shoji Power during meetings with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), and Advanced Biofuels Canada’s engagement with both ISED and the Privy Council Office (PCO).

📎 S&P Global Canada Manufacturing PMI

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.

↳ 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.

↳ 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.

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%).

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

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

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. → Taxation and Finance: 27 meetings (avg 9, +206%).

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

↳ 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).