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 — Social Issues

• Lobbying activity totalled 386 meetings in March 2026, up from a 12-month average of 240.7.
• The biggest moves were in Labour organizations and Charitable organizations.
• Unifor, SALVATION ARMY CANADA AND BERMUDA TERRITORY (THE) were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in March 2026 Data

Federal Plans Emphasize Social Development and Disability Inclusion

In March 2026, the Canadian government introduced new departmental plans prioritizing social development, disability inclusion, and poverty reduction. This coincides with a sharp rise in lobbying by organizations such as Easter Seals Canada, United Way Centraide Canada, and Prosper Canada, who have engaged with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and the House of Commons to seek increased funding for literacy programs, digital supports for charities, and broad-based social service enhancements.

📎 All Canadian Federal Government News and Press Releases from ... - Newswire

Economic Update Highlights Labour Market Supports Amid Uncertainty

The 2026 Spring Economic Update details federal investments in workforce innovation, sectoral alliances, and employment initiatives amid global volatility and U.S. trade actions. These priorities align with a surge in lobbying activity by labour organizations such as the International Union of Operating Engineers and the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, in meetings with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and the House of Commons, around workforce mobility programs, apprenticeship incentives, and addressing skills shortages.

📎 Spring Economic Update 2026 - Canada Strong For All

Human Rights Agenda Urges Stronger Actions on Refugee and Disability Policy

Amnesty International’s 2026 Human Rights Agenda calls for urgent federal measures on refugee/asylum seeker support, Indigenous rights, and disability inclusion. The timing coincides with elevated lobbying from organizations such as Rainbow Railroad, Easter Seals Canada, and Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory (The), with advocacy directed toward interlocutors including the House of Commons and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), focused on housing, social inclusion, and legislative reforms to support marginalized populations.

📎 2026 Human Rights Agenda for Canada | Amnesty International 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 386 meetings in March 2026, up from a 12-month average of 241. The most active industry was Labour organizations, while Charitable organizations rose above its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Religious organizations logged 87 meetings, up from an average of 47, Labour organizations logged 142 meetings, up from an average of 88, Charitable organizations logged 124 meetings, up from an average of 78, and Human rights organizations logged 24 meetings, up from an average of 18.

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

Labour organizations saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in March 2026.

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

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

Charitable organizations saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in March 2026.

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

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

Religious organizations saw lobbying run notably above expected levels in March 2026.

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

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

↳ Human rights organizations has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Human rights organizations 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 Unifor, SALVATION ARMY CANADA AND BERMUDA TERRITORY (THE), The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, and The Professional Institute for the Public Service of Canada.

On the quieter side, Canadian Labour Congress 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:

↳ Labour organizations → House of Commons: 108 meetings (avg 50, +114%).

↳ Religious organizations → House of Commons: 54 meetings (avg 31, +76%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Unifor → House of Commons: 68 meetings (avg 7, +817%).

↳ National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) → House of Commons: 22 meetings (avg 16, +39%).

↳ The Professional Institute for the Public Service of Canada → House of Commons: 19 meetings (avg 4, +365%).

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:

↳ Labour organizations → Labour: 113 meetings (avg 42, +168%).

↳ Labour organizations → Employment and Training: 106 meetings (avg 34, +216%).

↳ Labour organizations → Industry: 104 meetings (avg 25, +313%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Unifor → International Trade: 80 meetings (avg 9, +806%).

↳ Unifor → Industry: 79 meetings (avg 8, +919%).

↳ Unifor → Labour: 79 meetings (avg 8, +919%).

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 Human rights organizations → Sameer Zuberi (House of Commons), Religious organizations → Gary Anandasangaree (House of Commons) and Labour organizations → Lindsay Gwyer (Finance Canada (FIN)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs → Maggie Chi (House of Commons), The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs → Megan Furi (Public Safety Canada (PS)) and The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs → Patrick Mangan (Public Safety Canada (PS)).