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 220 meetings in April 2026, roughly in line with its 12-month average of 230.7.
• The biggest moves were in Chemical manufacturing (basic) and Wood and paper product manufacturing.
• Renewable Industries Canada, Air Products Canada Ltd. were more active than usual.

Real-World Context — Manufacturing, April 2026

Steel Sector Lobbying Intensifies Amid U.S. Tariffs and Canadian Policy Response

Records indicate a focus on supply chain reliability, 'Buy Canadian' requirements, and protective trade measures for the steel industry. This coincides with the U.S. government's April 2, 2026, escalation of tariffs on Canadian steel (and new tariffs on derivatives and copper), and Canada's December 2025–January 2026 countermeasures: reduced tariff rate quotas, a new 25% tariff on steel derivatives, procurement reforms, and enhanced Customs enforcement. These high-profile bilateral actions put trade policy, steel dumping, and domestic procurement at the center of industry lobbying.

📎 US tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper imports from Canada · Government implements new measures to protect Canada’s steel industry · Canada announces new trade measures to protect Canadian steel industry

Chemical Manufacturing Lobbying Jumps as CEPA Implementation Proceeds

Lobbying levels in basic chemical manufacturing shot up amid significant new regulatory activity. Meeting records explicitly reference Bill S-5 and the modernized Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), now in advanced stages of implementation, including new rules on substance assessment, the right to a healthy environment, and a 'watch list' for chemicals of concern. This heightened regulatory action—paired with consultations through 2026—is prompting industry groups to engage intensively on compliance and risk management issues.

📎 Implementing the modernized Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 · Canada must ramp up action on toxics under strengthened environmental protection law

Biofuels and Clean Fuel Regulation Drive Engagement From Chemical and Related Sectors

A surge in basic chemical and related sector lobbying (notably by Renewable Industries Canada) aligns with unfolding changes to the Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR) and the introduction of a $370 million federal incentive for domestic biofuel production starting January 2026. Meeting records show organizations seeking policy tweaks to favor domestic producers and level the playing field against heavily subsidized U.S. imports, coinciding with a government review of CFR amendments and industry consultation on feedstock and compliance issues.

📎 Canada Proposes Targeted CFR Amendments and $370 Million Biofuel Production Support · Share and views ideas: Targeted amendments to the Clean Fuel Regulations

Divergence in Resource Sector Lobbying Mirrors Trade Headwinds and Regulatory Shifts

Offsetting the steel/chemical lobbying upticks, wood and paper product manufacturing, cement, and other resource-linked industries logged below-average activity. This corresponds with a period of weaker exports and industry stress: the Bank of Canada reports continued declines in softwood lumber exports after fresh U.S. tariff hikes in late 2025 and ongoing trade disputes, while Parliament and the government are slow-rolling or reviewing major regulatory files for these sectors through 2026.

📎 One year later—Assessing the impact of US trade restrictions on Canadian industries

Carbon Capture and Clean Tech Remain Focus Topics as Federal Funding and Tax Credits Expand

Frequent mentions of investment tax credits and Strategic Innovation Fund applications for carbon capture projects align with ongoing federal incentives targeting industrial decarbonization. Budget 2025 locked in significant new funding for CCUS, and the 2026 implementation phase is seeing companies actively seek government partnerships and regulatory certainty to unlock project financing.

📎 Advancing carbon capture projects and tax credits (federal budget analysis)

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 220 meetings in April 2026, roughly in line with its 12-month average of 231. 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 6 meetings, up from an average of 3, Chemical manufacturing (basic) logged 41 meetings, up from an average of 24, Rubber product manufacturing logged 14 meetings, up from an average of 8, HVAC and refrigeration equipment manufacturing logged 3 meetings, up from an average of 2, and Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing logged 11 meetings, up from an average of 4.

On the quieter side, Wood and paper product manufacturing had 25 meetings, down from an average of 36, Chemical manufacturing had 11 meetings, down from an average of 17, Cement, concrete and building materials manufacturing had 15 meetings, down from an average of 24, Machinery manufacturing had 6 meetings, down from an average of 11, Electrical equipment, appliance and component manufacturing had 8 meetings, down from an average of 14, Miscellaneous manufacturing had 1 meetings, down from an average of 6, and Cosmetics, cleaning compound and toiletries had 1 meetings, down from an average of 1.

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

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

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

↳ 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.

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

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

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

↳ HVAC and refrigeration equipment manufacturing 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 Renewable Industries Canada, Air Products Canada Ltd., Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, and Kal Tire.

On the quieter side, Heidelberg Materials pulled back from its usual pace.

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:

↳ Chemical manufacturing (basic) → House of Commons: 14 meetings (avg 2, +460%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P. → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 11 meetings (avg 8, +45%).

↳ Canadian Institute of Steel Construction → House of Commons: 7 meetings (avg 2, +223%).

↳ ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P. → Prime Minister's Office (PMO): 7 meetings (avg 4, +71%).

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:

↳ Metal manufacturing → Industry: 46 meetings (avg 38, +22%).

↳ Metal manufacturing → International Trade: 44 meetings (avg 57, -22%).

↳ Chemical manufacturing (basic) → Environment: 39 meetings (avg 22, +79%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Air Products Canada Ltd. → Environment: 20 meetings (avg 11, +76%).

↳ Air Products Canada Ltd. → Industry: 20 meetings (avg 11, +76%).

↳ Air Products Canada Ltd. → Taxation and Finance: 20 meetings (avg 11, +83%).

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 Metal manufacturing → Charles Vincent (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Metal manufacturing → Tim Krupa (Prime Minister's Office (PMO)) and Metal manufacturing → Janice Charette (Privy Council Office (PCO)).

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. → Tim Krupa (Prime Minister's Office (PMO)) and ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P. → Janice Charette (Privy Council Office (PCO)).