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 — Utilities & Power

• Lobbying activity totalled 237 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 165.3.
• The biggest moves were in Pipelines and lng and Nuclear power.
• Nuclea Energy Inc, Seaspan Energy were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in February 2026 Data

Nuclear Energy Strategy Launch Coincides with Lobbying Spike

Canada’s rollout of a comprehensive Nuclear Energy Strategy in June 2026, targeting major new investments and regulatory changes for the sector, closely follows a notable surge in nuclear industry lobbying, including meetings by Nuclea Energy Inc. and Bruce Power with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). The policy framework emphasizes new reactors, export development, and support for small modular reactor (SMR) technologies, mirroring direct advocacy efforts for advanced nuclear deployment and regulatory streamlining by firms like Bruce Power and Nuclea Energy Inc. The timing and content of the strategy align with the focused lobbying themes seen earlier in the year.

📎 Canada Releases Nuclear Energy Strategy | Blakes

Federal-Provincial SMR Project Follows Coordinated Lobbying Push

The joint $3 billion federal and Ontario investment to construct Canada’s first small modular reactors near Darlington in October 2025 marks a pivotal shift in national energy priorities. This comes after concentrated lobbying activity in early 2026 by Nuclea Energy Inc., which engaged with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Prime Minister's Office advocating for SMR demonstration sites, regulatory fast-tracking, and increased innovation funding, suggesting industry efforts coincided with—and possibly responded to—government momentum on advanced nuclear projects.

📎 Feds, province to spend $3B on mini nuclear power plant in Bowmanville ...

Major Funding Boost for Chalk River Laboratories Parallels Nuclear R&D Lobbying

In May 2026, the federal government’s significant capital commitment to Chalk River Laboratories supports key R&D infrastructure for advanced reactor development and nuclear innovation, reflecting priorities advanced by Bruce Power in discussions with Natural Resources Canada and the Privy Council Office. This major funding aligns with a record spike in lobbying meetings from Nuclea Energy Inc. and Bruce Power focused on government support for demonstration sites, advanced R&D, and regulatory approvals for commercial nuclear technology during February 2026, with particular attention to partnership opportunities and continued federal backing through Natural Resources Canada and the Prime Minister's Office.

📎 Clean Energy – News and Announcements - Canadian Nuclear Laboratories

Electricity Grid Expansion and Data Centre Growth Linked to Transmission and Clean Tech Advocacy

The government’s National Electricity Strategy, released in early 2026, advocates for major grid expansion and investment in clean power infrastructure, including new support for data centres and east-west transmission upgrades. Intensified lobbying in February 2026 by Marine Renewables Canada and Pembina Pipeline Corporation with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Finance Canada (FIN) for pro-growth regulatory frameworks, transmission investments, and clean tech incentives coincides with this policy rollout, indicating industry alignment with broader government infrastructure ambitions.

📎 Canada Releases Nuclear Energy Strategy | Blakes

Microreactor and Remote Energy Pilots Announced Amid Northern Clean Energy Lobbying

April 2026 saw the announcement of federal investment in microreactor feasibility studies, specifically targeting remote and defence-related sites in northern Canada. This move follows sustained advocacy by Solvest Inc. and Marine Renewables Canada for clean energy pilot projects and infrastructure partnerships in remote and Indigenous communities, with efforts involving Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) and the House of Commons, reflecting a strong policy alignment between lobbying objectives and new federal demonstration initiatives.

📎 Nuclear Energy Strategy announced at CNA2026 -- ANS / Nuclear Newswire

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 237 meetings in February 2026, up from a 12-month average of 165. The most active industry was Pipelines and lng, while Electric power generation rose above its recent baseline.

The industries with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include Pipelines and lng logged 59 meetings, up from an average of 35, Utilities (integrated) logged 45 meetings, up from an average of 32, Batteries and charging logged 14 meetings, up from an average of 11, Electric power generation logged 58 meetings, up from an average of 48, Hydrogen and fuel cells logged 13 meetings, up from an average of 9, and Nuclear power logged 41 meetings, up from an average of 20.

Utilities (transmission and distribution) had 7 meetings, down from an average of 10.

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

↳ Utilities (integrated) has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Utilities (integrated) 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.

↳ Electric power generation has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Electric power generation displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Hydrogen and fuel cells has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Hydrogen and fuel cells displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Nuclear power has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Nuclear power 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 Nuclea Energy Inc, Seaspan Energy, Solvest Inc., Marine Renewables Canada, and Ontario Power Generation Inc..

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:

↳ Pipelines and lng → Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 15 meetings (avg 10, +46%).

↳ Nuclear power → Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 11 meetings (avg 6, +97%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Canadian Nuclear Association → House of Commons: 9 meetings (avg 2, +332%).

↳ Bruce Power → Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 6 meetings (avg 2, +279%).

↳ Seaspan Energy → Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC): 5 meetings (avg 0, +1100%).

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:

↳ Electric power generation → Energy: 64 meetings (avg 46, +39%).

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

↳ Electric power generation → Economic Development: 53 meetings (avg 32, +66%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Nuclea Energy Inc → Research and Development: 14 meetings (avg 1, +950%).

↳ Nuclea Energy Inc → Energy: 14 meetings (avg 1, +950%).

↳ Nuclea Energy Inc → Environment: 14 meetings (avg 1, +950%).

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 Pipelines and lng → Martin Kolacz (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)), Nuclear power → Drew Leyburne (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)) and Nuclear power → Marie-Christine Demers (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Bruce Power → Eamonn McGuinty (Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)), Enbridge Inc. → Erin Flanagan (Privy Council Office (PCO)) and AltaGas Ltd. → Sarah Jackson (Transport Canada (TC)).