Lobbying on Mining - Ottawa (March 2026 edition)
Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association, Wyloo Metals, Global Battery Materials, Vale Canada Limited were unusually active lobbyists last month.
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 231 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 144.8.
- The biggest moves were in Oil, gas and mining support services and Mining (metal ore).
- Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association, Wyloo Metals were more active than usual.
Section A: The Themes Hidden in February 2026 Data
Defence Strategy Elevates Critical Minerals
The February 2026 launch of Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy placed explicit emphasis on critical minerals and mining as key to national security and supply chain resilience. This policy shift coincides with a documented surge in lobbying for project investment, infrastructure support, and regulatory clarity by mining groups such as Agnico Eagle Mines Limited and Global Battery Materials, with engagement at institutions including Natural Resources Canada and the Privy Council Office, seeking to capitalize on new defence-related priorities.
📎 Critical minerals key highlight in Canada’s first defence strategy
Western and Northern Jurisdictions Forge Minerals Pact
In late January 2026, western and northern Canadian governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding to coordinate regional infrastructure, extraction, and export of critical minerals. The timing of this coordinated strategy aligns with heightened industry lobbying in February, as organizations like Rio Tinto Canada Management Inc, Glencore Canada Corporation, and Northisle Copper and Gold Inc. engaged with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited advocated with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and NRCan, as these organizations pushed for influence over infrastructure investments, Indigenous partnerships, and provincial-federal alignment on mining priorities.
Critical Minerals Highlighted in Provincial Policy
British Columbia’s active role in the new western and northern critical minerals strategy underscores the province’s commitment to modernizing mining infrastructure and supporting domestic extraction. This development coincides with records showing sharp increases in lobbying by organisations such as Rio Tinto Canada Management Inc, Global Battery Materials, and Glencore Canada Corporation—often engaging Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)—focused on infrastructure and regulatory pathways during February, as industry stakeholders aimed to shape implementation of these new regional policies.
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 231 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 145. The most active industry was Mining (metal ore), while Oil, gas and mining support services rose above its recent baseline.
The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Oil, gas and mining support services logged 51 meetings, up from an average of 11, and Mining (metal ore) logged 114 meetings, up from an average of 74.
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
Mining (metal ore) saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in February 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.
Oil, gas and mining support services saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in February 2026.
↳ 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.
Mining saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in February 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.
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 Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association, Wyloo Metals, Global Battery Materials, and Vale Canada Limited.
On the quieter side, The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) 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:
↳ Mining (metal ore) → Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 30 meetings (avg 19, +55%).
↳ Mining (metal ore) → House of Commons: 29 meetings (avg 12, +142%).
↳ Mining → Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 22 meetings (avg 14, +61%).
The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:
↳ Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association → House of Commons: 12 meetings (avg 2, +658%).
↳ Vale Canada Limited → House of Commons: 6 meetings (avg 2, +188%).
↳ Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association → Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 6 meetings (avg 1, +800%).
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: 101 meetings (avg 68, +48%).
↳ Mining (metal ore) → Economic Development: 82 meetings (avg 52, +57%).
↳ Mining (metal ore) → Natural Resources: 82 meetings (avg 47, +75%).
The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:
↳ Wyloo Metals → Regional Development: 17 meetings (avg 2, +750%).
↳ Wyloo Metals → Natural Resources: 17 meetings (avg 2, +750%).
↳ Wyloo Metals → Federal-Provincial Relations: 17 meetings (avg 2, +750%).
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 (metal ore) → Michael Jason (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)), Mining (metal ore) → Claude Guay (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 Alamos Gold Inc. → Terry Sheehan (House of Commons), Wyloo Metals → Paul Moen (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)) and Wyloo Metals → Sunny Uppal (Privy Council Office (PCO)).
