L3Harris, a U.S. defence contractor oft-used by Ottawa, has been spotlighting its Canadian operations in multiple lobbying communications with federal office holders, according to the federal registry.

The communications highlighted the L3Harris business in Canada with a focus on its division in Mirabel and Montreal in Quebec, and Waterdown in Ontario. The stated aim of the meetings was to familiarize the government “with L3Harris capabilities in Canada, provide updates on programs and to discuss export permit issues.”

The lobbying took place in September and October and targeted officials from Global Affairs Canada, the Department of National Defence (DND) and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), according to federal filings.

L3Harris has been awarded nearly $6 billion in contracts from DND since 2004. In the last five years alone, the department gave it contracts worth $1.2 billion.

But the ongoing trade war with the U.S. could put some of the company’s future Canadian procurement opportunities in jeopardy, just as the federal government plans to massively increase defence spending.

In June, Prime Minister Mark Carney promised to invest more than $9 billion in the Canadian military in the 2025-26 fiscal year to ensure Canada meets its NATO spending targets by March. Carney has vowed to reduce Canada’s reliance on U.S. suppliers for military contracts.

Tuesday’s budget also earmarked $81.8 billion over five years in defence spending, including the $9 billion already announced in June. That includes spending on personnel retention, purchases of armoured vehicles and drones as well as investments in defence infrastructure and expanding ammunition and training programs.

L3Harris’s lobbying comes as a major contract with another U.S. defence supplier, Lockheed Martin, has been under federal scrutiny for months.

Days after first taking office in March, Carney ordered a review of a $27.7-billion contract for F-35 fighter jets made by Lockheed Martin. The government has already put down money for the first 16 jets, but it could find a new supplier for the rest of the 88 warplanes it plans to buy.

In early October, a defence official said unless they hear otherwise, the purchase will continue. A week later, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly told reporters Lockheed Martin should promise more economic benefits to Canada if it wants the full purchase to proceed.

Kened Sadiku, a DND spokesperson, told the IJF the F-35 review “is still ongoing as Canada continues to consider our Defence Industrial Strategy and work to ensure maximum economic benefits for our businesses and workers.”

L3Harris did not respond to a request for comment.

PSPC did not respond to the IJF’s questions before deadline.

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