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 — Telecoms

• Lobbying activity totalled 50 meetings in May 2026, down from a 12-month average of 67.2.
• The most notable shift was in Telecommunications.
• Xplore Inc. was more active than usual.

Real-World Context — Telecoms, May 2026

Telecom and Space Lobbying Tracks Defence Industrial and Space Security Strategy Initiatives

Lobbying on dual-use space-based communications, Arctic defence, and space domain awareness coincides with a federal policy push. In spring 2026, the government updated its defence strategies to emphasize investment in Canadian-controlled space capabilities and dual-use technologies, including the launch of a Defence Industrial Strategy and new funding for domestic space infrastructure. This sector's lobbying aligns with recent Department of National Defence and Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) announcements targeting space-based intelligence, procurement reforms, and stronger domestic supply chains.

📎 Canada advances Defence Industrial Strategy to strengthen security, sovereignty and prosperity · Space Strategic Infrastructure for Canada’s Security and Sovereignty · Canada Sovereign Counterspace and Space Domain Awareness Capabilities

Lobbying Surge on AI Policy Coincides with Canada's New Sovereign AI Strategy

Recent meetings on national artificial intelligence policies—including the 'sovereign AI compute strategy' and the AI Compute Access Fund—align with Ottawa’s April–June 2026 rollout of a multi-billion-dollar sovereign AI plan. The new framework funds a national AI supercomputing program and direct compute subsidies for industry, with explicit government calls for stakeholder input and public consultations, which likely triggered increased engagement from telecom actors invested in AI infrastructure.

📎 Canada launches national initiative to build large-scale AI supercomputing capacity · Government of Canada supports 44 Canadian companies using AI to transform industries and create jobs · Canada unveils national AI strategy: Key commitments, regulatory gaps, and what’s missing

Xplore Inc. Drives Connectivity Lobbying Amid Acceleration of Rural Broadband Funding

The sharp uptick in Xplore Inc.’s meetings—especially on telecommunications, taxation, and rural broadband—coincides with major new funding rounds from the CRTC’s Broadband Fund, announced in April and June 2026. These programs aim to connect Canada’s hardest-to-serve regions, with government emphasis on closing the digital divide ahead of the 2026–2030 targets; organizations with rural networks, like Xplore, have strong interests at stake.

📎 Broadband Fund | CRTC · Canada expanding high-speed Internet access in rural and remote areas in Manitoba · New CRTC Broadband Fund Overhaul Aims to Connect Rural Canadians Much Faster

Major Incumbents Pull Back Amid Volatile and Event-Driven Policy Environment

The lower-than-usual lobbying from big telecoms like TELUS and Rogers comes as CRTC and ISED finalize several major reviews impacting wholesale broadband, spectrum auctions, and lawful access regulation. This may reflect briefing periods, regulatory 'quiet windows,' or adaptations to a year of dense and event-driven policy changes, as seen in ongoing CRTC telecom reviews and spectrum policy consultations.

📎 Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2024-328 · Canada's Connectivity Strategy · Connectivity In Rural And Remote Areas (Parliamentary Report, Dec 2025)

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 50 meetings in May 2026, down from a 12-month average of 67. The most active industry was Telecommunications.

Telecommunications had 50 meetings, down from an average of 67.

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 2026-05

↳ Telecommunications has been trending downward in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Telecommunications 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 organization with the most notable increase in lobbying this month was Xplore Inc..

On the quieter side, TELUS Corporation, Bell Canada, TELESAT CANADA, and Rogers Communications Inc. all pulled back from their usual pace.

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:

↳ Telecommunications → House of Commons: 17 meetings (avg 24, -28%).

↳ Telecommunications → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 11 meetings (avg 19, -42%).

↳ Telecommunications → Prime Minister's Office (PMO): 6 meetings (avg 5, +22%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Xplore Inc. → House of Commons: 10 meetings (avg 1, +823%).

↳ Cogeco Communications Inc. → House of Commons: 4 meetings (avg 3, +41%).

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 busiest industry → subject corridors this month:

↳ Telecommunications → Telecommunications: 45 meetings (avg 62, -27%).

↳ Telecommunications → Economic Development: 18 meetings (avg 15, +20%).

↳ Telecommunications → Infrastructure: 13 meetings (avg 20, -35%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Xplore Inc. → Telecommunications: 12 meetings (avg 2, +433%).

↳ Rogers Communications Inc. → Telecommunications: 7 meetings (avg 11, -35%).

↳ Xplore Inc. → Taxation and Finance: 6 meetings (avg 1, +500%).

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 Telecommunications → Chris Padfield (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)), Telecommunications → Matt Hall (Prime Minister's Office (PMO)) and Telecommunications → Don Davies (House of Commons).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were TELESAT CANADA → Matt Hall (Prime Minister's Office (PMO)), Xplore Inc. → Don Davies (House of Commons) and Xplore Inc. → Carol Anstey (House of Commons).