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 154 meetings in April 2026, roughly in line with its 12-month average of 161.8.
• The most notable shift was in Oil, gas and mining support services.
• Fireweed Metals Corp., Glencore Canada Corporation were more active than usual.

Real-World Context — Mining, April 2026

Critical Minerals Drive Above-Average Mining Lobbying

Mining industry lobbying, particularly about metal ores and critical minerals, outpaced average levels in April 2026. This aligns with significant fresh funding and policy incentives for mining infrastructure—most notably, the federal launch of the $1.5 billion First and Last Mile Fund targeting roads, transmission lines, and enabling works for new mines, as well as a suite of new programs announced at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention. Meeting records reveal industry asks for infrastructure and financial support for critical mineral projects, precisely matching these federal funding initiatives.

📎 Government of Canada invests to unlock Canada’s critical minerals advantage · PDAC: Ottawa details $1.5B road, power fund

Tax Credit Expansions Spur Exploration-Focused Lobbying

Lobbying efforts centered on CRA guidelines, flow-through shares, and mineral exploration tax credits—including the 30% Critical Minerals Exploration Tax Credit (CMETC)—were prominent in official meeting records. This follows the March 2025 extension of the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit to March 2027 and an expansion of critical minerals eligible for the CMETC in Budget 2025, allowing a broader set of projects to qualify. Industry actors are likely engaging with policymakers to clarify rules and maximize benefits amid fresh capital flows to mineral exploration.

📎 Government extending support for mineral exploration in Canada · Expanded critical minerals eligibility in Canada opens tax credit opportunities · Flow-Through Shares 2026 Guide

Trade Friction and ‘Reshoring’ Raise Stakes for Support Measures

Several lobbying records mention support for industries impacted by trade policies, as well as programs for import/export support and mine life extensions. These themes are particularly salient with the intensification of trade tensions and the focus on ensuring resilient, domestic supply chains for critical minerals, as seen in the government's push for the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance and new international deals. Recent U.S. initiatives and trade frictions with Canada put added pressure on Ottawa to reinforce sector support mechanisms.

📎 Canada signs over 20 critical mineral deals but faces $12-billion U.S. challenge to turn diplomacy into mines · Canada Deploys $3.6 Billion to Accelerate Critical Minerals Development

Northern and Indigenous Infrastructure Front-and-Center

Records show direct advocacy for infrastructure improvement projects in remote and northern regions (e.g., North Canol, Yukon/NT; Great Bear project; Mactung and Macpass). This matches policy emphasis in new federal investments that specifically prioritize northern and Indigenous-led projects as part of the First and Last Mile Fund, as well as their strategic role highlighted in the 2026 Defence Industrial Strategy.

📎 Critical minerals key highlight in Canada’s first defence strategy · Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF) Canada: Up to $1.5 Billion Available Until 2030 - Full 2026 Guide

Environment, Conservation, and Regulatory Reform Shape Project Approvals

Lobbying meeting records reflect discussions around the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, nature and conservation policies (including Canada's 30x30 land and ocean protection goal), and regulatory reforms for major projects. New budget investments in 2026 also included funding for environmental reviews and Indigenous consultation standards, underscoring the centrality of these issues to project timelines and the industry's engagement with Ottawa.

📎 Government of Canada invests to unlock Canada’s critical minerals advantage · Canada’s critical minerals strategy: Global leadership | EDC

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 154 meetings in April 2026, roughly in line with its 12-month average of 162. The most active industry was Mining (metal ore), while Oil, gas and mining support services fell below its recent baseline.

Oil, gas and mining support services had 2 meetings, down from an average of 11.

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

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

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

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

↳ 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 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 Fireweed Metals Corp., Glencore Canada Corporation, Vale Canada Limited, Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, and First Mining Gold.

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:

↳ Mining → House of Commons: 16 meetings (avg 9, +70%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Glencore Canada Corporation → House of Commons: 10 meetings (avg 1, +900%).

↳ Anglo American plc → Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 7 meetings (avg 1, +394%).

↳ Fireweed Metals Corp. → Senate of Canada: 5 meetings (avg 1, +567%).

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 most active industry → subject pair was Mining (metal ore) → Mining with 86 meetings.

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Glencore Canada Corporation → Mining: 19 meetings (avg 10, +90%).

↳ Glencore Canada Corporation → Natural Resources: 19 meetings (avg 10, +88%).

↳ Fireweed Metals Corp. → Economic Development: 18 meetings (avg 4, +391%).

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 Mining (metal ore) → Michael Jason (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)), Mining (metal ore) → Samir Kassam (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)) and Mining → Isabella Chan (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Rio Tinto Canada Management Inc → David McFarlane (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Impala Canada Limited → Michael Jason (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)) and Fireweed Metals Corp. → Pat Duncan (Senate of Canada).