Foreign tech giants have more than tripled their lobbying in Ottawa since Justin Trudeau won the October 2015 federal election, according to an analysis of eight years of lobbying records conducted by The Logic. Amazon and Alphabet together made up more than half that increase, lobbying the combined equivalent of every other day over the past four years.
The increase comes as other major sectors of the Canadian economy are dialing back their lobbying. For example, Canada’s Big Five banks and Big Three telecommunications firms have lobbied slightly less so far under the Liberals than they did under the Conservatives.
The tech firms are looking to effect policy change on a wide range of issues including economic development, international trade, elections, telecommunications and taxation.