lobbyists
reports
energy, defence, finance
budget
The Top Sectors
Who Lobbies Most, Wins Most
Highest Lobbying Activity → Highest Drug Prices
The pharmaceutical industry is consistently among the top lobbying sectors. Drug companies lobby against PMPRB reform, against pharmacare expansion, and for extended patent protection. As documented in the regulatory capture analysis, Canada's drug prices remain among the highest in the OECD despite the PMPRB's mandate to prevent excessive pricing. The PMPRB reform that could have reduced drug costs has been delayed for years through industry legal challenges and lobbying.
Oligopoly Maintained Through Regulatory Influence
Bell, Rogers, and Telus maintain active lobbying operations targeting CRTC decisions, spectrum allocations, and foreign ownership restrictions. The result: Canadians pay among the highest wireless and broadband prices in the developed world, while three companies control 87% of the wireless market. Every CRTC decision that could increase competition has been followed by intensive lobbying from incumbents to limit its impact.
Pipeline Approvals and Carbon Policy
Oil and gas companies, pipeline operators, and renewable energy firms all maintain lobbying operations. The energy sector lobbies on pipeline approvals, carbon pricing, emissions regulations, and export policy. The CER approval process — as documented in the regulatory capture analysis — favours well-resourced industry proponents over under-resourced interveners. Energy lobbying also targets the climate transition framework that the PM created at the FSB and GFANZ before joining Brookfield.
Procurement Contracts and Equipment Programs
Defence contractors lobby for procurement contracts worth billions. The documented procurement failures — including ArriveCAN, the surface combatant program, and the fighter jet replacement — occur within an environment of intensive defence industry lobbying. The revolving door between DND/CAF and defence contractors is well-documented in the lobbying registry, with former military officers and defence officials appearing as registered lobbyists for the companies bidding on contracts their former departments are evaluating.
The Banks That Fund Their Own Regulation
Canada's Big Five banks maintain permanent lobbying operations targeting OSFI regulation, tax policy, mortgage rules, and financial technology regulation. As documented in the regulatory capture analysis, OSFI is funded by the institutions it regulates. The financial sector's lobbying activity reinforces a regulatory environment that has maintained banking profitability (combined annual profits exceeding $50 billion) while Canadians face the housing affordability crisis documented in the housing financialization analysis.
The Maintenance Mechanism of Capture
Lobbying maintains the captured system. 5,000+ lobbyists invest continuously to sustain regulatory capture, shape legislation, and maintain the revolving door. Industries invest millions because policy outcomes are worth billions. Citizens have zero lobbying budget.
The lobbying registry documents who meets whom about what. Policy outcomes document who wins. The correlation is the evidence that institutional capture is maintained, not accidental.