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 — Mining

• Lobbying activity totalled 236 meetings in March 2026, up from a 12-month average of 160.6.
• The biggest moves were in Mining (metal ore) and Mining.
• Impala Canada Limited, Foran Mining Corporation were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in March 2026 Data

Surge in Federal Mining Infrastructure Funding

March 2026 saw lobbying activity from Agnico Eagle Mines Limited and Eldorado Gold Corporation coincide with major federal announcements of up to $73 million for 12 Canadian critical minerals projects. The funding, including $50 million for key northern transportation infrastructure, closely tracks industry advocacy—such as Agnico Eagle Mines Limited’s meetings with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Eldorado Gold Corporation’s discussions with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Finance Canada (FIN)—for mineral shipping policies and operational financial support, and reflects a period of above-average government engagement with mining stakeholders.

📎 Canada announces more federal investment for projects to advance ...

Critical Minerals Strategy Shifts to Accelerated Implementation

The operational phase of Canada's Critical Minerals Strategy in 2026 led to streamlined project approval, targeted funding tools, and enhanced regulatory support—directly aligning with concurrent lobbying by Global Battery Materials and Vale Canada Limited with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Natural Resources Canada for clearer investment pathways, tax credits, and capital for mine restarts. This period marked a policy transition from broad strategy to actionable support for mining expansion and value-chain development.

📎 Grow Trade Consulting · The key trends shaping Canada’s mining industry in 2026

Record Investment Announcements at PDAC 2026

Federal commitments exceeding $3.6 billion were revealed at the PDAC convention in March 2026, with targeted spending on 'mine-to-market' projects, infrastructure, and strategic alliances. This timing parallels a spike in lobbying efforts by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited and Global Battery Materials with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), as mining companies seek alignment with new government frameworks and expanded opportunities for critical battery metals.

📎 PDAC 2026: Canada Doubles Down on Mining as Investment Attractiveness ... · McCarthy Tetrault

Federal Focus on Indigenous Partnerships and Regional Development

A reinforced emphasis on Indigenous collaboration and local economic support accompanied federal mining investments in early 2026, particularly in northern and remote regions. These initiatives dovetail with lobbying centered on workforce engagement, community development, and regulatory stability for projects on Indigenous territories.

📎 Canada Invests $73 Million to Strengthen Critical Minerals Mining and ...

Policy Updates Target Decarbonization and Tax Credits for Mining

Strengthened climate regulation and expanded tax incentives for decarbonization and advanced materials processing characterize federal policy updates in 2026. Lobbying by Global Battery Materials with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Eldorado Gold Corporation with Natural Resources Canada highlighted requests for emissions reductions programs and financial support for graphite and battery facility restarts—mirroring new government funding streams and tax adjustments.

📎 Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF) Canada: Up to $1.5 Billion ...

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 236 meetings in March 2026, up from a 12-month average of 161. The most active industry was Mining (metal ore), while Mining rose above its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Mining logged 88 meetings, up from an average of 65, Oil, gas and mining support services logged 23 meetings, up from an average of 13, and Mining (metal ore) logged 125 meetings, up from an average of 83.

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 2026-03

Mining (metal ore) saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in March 2026.

↳ Mining (metal ore) has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Mining (metal ore) displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

Mining saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in March 2026.

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

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

↳ Oil, gas and mining support services has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Oil, gas and mining support services 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 Impala Canada Limited, Foran Mining Corporation, PMET Resources, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, and The Mosaic Company.

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:

↳ Mining (metal ore) → Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 34 meetings (avg 22, +56%).

↳ Mining → Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 24 meetings (avg 15, +63%).

↳ Mining (metal ore) → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 23 meetings (avg 10, +140%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Impala Canada Limited → Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 9 meetings (avg 1, +800%).

↳ Agnico Eagle Mines Limited → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 7 meetings (avg 1, +833%).

↳ The Mosaic Company → House of Commons: 7 meetings (avg 2, +320%).

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:

↳ Mining (metal ore) → Mining: 117 meetings (avg 76, +54%).

↳ Mining (metal ore) → Economic Development: 108 meetings (avg 60, +81%).

↳ Mining (metal ore) → Regional Development: 101 meetings (avg 49, +108%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Fertilizer Canada → Mining: 24 meetings (avg 6, +295%).

↳ Agnico Eagle Mines Limited → Taxation and Finance: 23 meetings (avg 10, +126%).

↳ Agnico Eagle Mines Limited → Employment and Training: 23 meetings (avg 10, +126%).

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 Mining → Samir Kassam (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)), Mining (metal ore) → Michael Jason (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)) and Mining (metal ore) → Claude Guay (House of Commons).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Impala Canada Limited → Claude Guay (House of Commons), Impala Canada Limited → Michael Jason (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)) and Impala Canada Limited → Michael Jason (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)).