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 — Oil & Gas

• Lobbying activity totalled 243 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 132.7.
• The biggest moves were in Oil, gas and mining support services and Oil and gas extraction.
• Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association, Seaspan Energy were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in February 2026 Data

Surge in Pipeline Lobbying Amid Federal-Provincial Agreements

Lobbying activity related to pipelines, LNG, and export infrastructure rose sharply in February 2026, with Pembina Pipeline Corporation and Canadian Energy Infrastructure Corp holding meetings with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Global Affairs Canada, coinciding with increased coordination between the federal government and Alberta on new West Coast pipeline development. This engagement, which also included Shell Canada Limited and Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, reflects heightened industry efforts to influence regulatory processes as policymakers prioritize export diversification and faster major project approvals.

📎 CAPP | Canada's Upstream Oil and Natural Gas Industry

Industry Targets CCUS Incentives and Decarbonization Strategies

A pronounced focus on carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), fiscal incentives, and energy transition policies characterized lobbying activity from organizations like the Pathways Alliance, Shell Canada Limited, the Oil Sands Alliance, and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers in meetings with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the House of Commons, and the Privy Council Office (PCO). This pattern aligns with new framework agreements between Ottawa and Alberta designed to accelerate large-scale CCUS deployment and advance decarbonization initiatives.

📎 CAPP | Canada's Upstream Oil and Natural Gas Industry

Ottawa’s ‘Balanced’ Policy Spurs Dual-Track Lobbying

The rise in lobbying for both oil and gas expansion and clean energy initiatives—prominently by Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and Shell Canada Limited with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the House of Commons—coincides with Ottawa’s publicized strategy of balancing traditional resource growth with long-term clean economy goals. Industry efforts in February, including Enbridge Inc. engaging Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), reflect the desire for regulatory clarity, fiscal incentives, and competitive certainty as policymakers signal support for both conventional and transition projects.

📎 Canada striking 'right balance' on oil and gas expansion and clean ...

Trade Uncertainty and Global Volatility Fuel Export-Focused Lobbying

Elevated government-industry dialogue on trade, pipeline access, and export strategies in February 2026 comes amid economic and policy turbulence noted by the Bank of Canada, highlighted by meetings between the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and Natural Resources Canada and between Pembina Pipeline Corporation and Finance Canada. Oil and gas organizations, including Pembina Pipeline Corporation, increased advocacy around sector competitiveness and diversification of export markets, aligning with responses to ongoing U.S. tariffs and negotiations over the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement.

📎 Monetary Policy Report July 2026 - Bank of Canada

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 243 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 133. The most active industry was Oil and gas extraction, 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 and gas extraction logged 119 meetings, up from an average of 81, Oil, gas and mining support services logged 51 meetings, up from an average of 11, Petroleum refining logged 10 meetings, up from an average of 4, Petroleum products distribution and retail logged 4 meetings, up from an average of 2, and Pipelines and lng logged 59 meetings, up from an average of 35.

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

Oil and gas extraction saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in February 2026.

↳ Oil and gas extraction has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Oil and gas extraction 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.

↳ Pipelines and lng has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Pipelines and lng displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Petroleum refining 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, Seaspan Energy, Pathways Alliance Inc., Shell Canada Limited, and Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

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:

↳ Oil and gas extraction → Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 53 meetings (avg 28, +90%).

↳ Oil and gas extraction → Privy Council Office (PCO): 24 meetings (avg 9, +180%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Pathways Alliance Inc. → Privy Council Office (PCO): 14 meetings (avg 3, +442%).

↳ Shell Canada Limited → Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 13 meetings (avg 6, +108%).

↳ Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association → House of Commons: 12 meetings (avg 2, +658%).

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:

↳ Oil and gas extraction → Energy: 104 meetings (avg 72, +44%).

↳ Oil and gas extraction → Environment: 91 meetings (avg 53, +73%).

↳ Pipelines and lng → Energy: 55 meetings (avg 30, +84%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers → Energy: 17 meetings (avg 11, +55%).

↳ Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers → Economic Development: 16 meetings (avg 5, +215%).

↳ Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers → Environment: 16 meetings (avg 7, +140%).

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 Oil and gas extraction → Erin O'Brien (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)), Oil and gas extraction → Kelsen Vallee (Privy Council Office (PCO)) and Oil and gas extraction → Martin Kolacz (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Pathways Alliance Inc. → Kelsen Vallee (Privy Council Office (PCO)), Shell Canada Limited → Erin O'Brien (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)) and Suncor Energy Inc. → Martin Kolacz (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)).