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

Charity Sector Faces Compliance Upheaval Amid Digital Shift and Lower Lobbying Thresholds

The switch to mandatory online filings for registered charities, combined with a much lower threshold for lobbying registration, has created significant operational volatility across the sector. This dual policy change coincides with a marked rise in lobbying activities as organizations adjust to tighter reporting requirements and increased scrutiny.

📎 Canada Charity Law Changes in 2026: What Registered Charities Need to Know · Canadian Charity Law Updates: Spring 2026

Sector Advocacy Intensifies as Ottawa Pursues Charitable Framework Modernization

Spring 2026 saw the federal government engage charities and non-profits such as Easter Seals Canada, CanadaHelps, and Imagine Canada in consultations with Employment and Social Development Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency on overhauling the sector’s legal and funding framework. This phase of stakeholder engagement has prompted a surge in advocacy, as organizations seek to inform and shape potential changes—especially on tax policy, digital inclusion, and compliance.

📎 Four charities stories to watch in 2026, including two happening now · Four Charities Stories To Watch In 2026, Including Two ... - Mondaq

Religious Charities Push for Legal Stability After Status Debate Deferral

Following the government’s decision not to act on contentious proposals to revoke the charitable status of certain religious organizations, many faith-based charities such as The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Jewish National Fund, and Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory have increased meetings with policymakers, notably the House of Commons and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), to secure policy certainty. This activity comes amid ongoing lobbying for clarification and legislative closure on sector eligibility rules.

📎 Legal Update & Questions for Religious Charities in Canada · A Year in Review: Key Canadian Charity and Non-profit Developments From ...

Civil Society Renews Human Rights Push Amid Calls for Federal Action

A coalition of civil society groups, including Pathways to Education Canada, Jack.org, Cooperation Canada, and SALVATION ARMY CANADA AND BERMUDA TERRITORY (THE), issued a public call for a federal Department of Human Rights and binding frameworks, highlighting gaps in current economic, social, and cultural rights enforcement. This advocacy aligns with an uptick in lobbying from human rights and social service organizations before institutions such as the House of Commons and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), especially around anti-poverty, gender-based violence, and shelter policy.

📎 Canadian Civil Society Organizations Unite in Call for Human Rights ...

Amnesty Highlights Rights Risks as Advocacy Focuses on Marginalized Groups

Amnesty International Canada’s 2026 agenda draws attention to declining protections for refugees, gender justice, and Indigenous rights, underscoring concerns seen in lobbying activities by Plan International Canada Inc., Rainbow Railroad, and Oxfam Canada. The timing of this report coincides with broadened sector engagement—evident in meetings with Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Women and Gender Equality (WAGE), and the House of Commons—to influence both federal rights accountability and support for vulnerable 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 Religious organizations → Gary Anandasangaree (House of Commons), Human rights organizations → Sameer Zuberi (House of Commons) and Religious organizations → Maggie Chi (House of Commons).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs → Megan Furi (Public Safety Canada (PS)), Campfire Circle → Salman Arif (Prime Minister's Office (PMO)) and Eleanor Crook Foundation → Gary Xie (Global Affairs Canada (GAC)).