US Accuses Canada of Interfering in Midterm Elections
Tamara Khandaker, Al Jazeera English
The US Embassy in Canada has released a fact sheet accusing Canadian politicians of trying to influence the November 3 US midterm elections, citing retaliatory tariffs, meetings with US politicians and an anti-tariff ad campaign. Ottawa denies the allegations, with Industry Minister Melanie Joly saying Canada would never interfere in US elections.
The US Embassy in Canada on October 29 published a fact sheet accusing Canadian politicians of seeking to influence the US midterm elections, citing their responses to President Donald Trump's tariff campaign. Canada rejected the charge, insisting it would never interfere in US elections.
According to the fact sheet, Washington contends that the Canadian government has "dismissed" concerns about potential election interference, while Canadian ministers and premiers have openly described plans to influence US politics in official documents and public remarks.
The two countries have been locked in a trade war since the start of Trump's second term in 2025, when Canada imposed import duties in retaliation for US tariffs. The US Embassy views statements about tariffs as attempts to affect the November 3 election.
The fact sheet names Canadian Industry Minister Melanie Joly, quoting her August remarks on retaliating against Trump's tariffs: "We are also targeting products that affect US states. So we are acting smartly and strategically to create political pressure."
The embassy also objected to Joly's meetings with Democratic Party officials in Boston and Chicago in September. Asked by reporters what might happen to tariffs if Democrats win the midterms, she replied: "That is exactly why I am meeting so many governors and potential presidential candidates."
Joly rejected the suggestion that her actions could amount to interference, saying Canada would never meddle in US elections. She said meetings with US politicians from both parties were aimed at building Canada's economy. "Basically, what I do in the US is attract investment," she told reporters on October 14.
The US Embassy also cited Ontario Premier Doug Ford's calls for retaliation against US goods, along with an anti-tariff advertising campaign launched by the provincial government last year. The campaign used footage of US President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs in a 1987 radio address, prompting Trump to suspend trade negotiations with Canada in October 2025.
While citing numerous examples of Canadian officials seeking to influence US trade policy, the fact sheet does not explain how those efforts amount to election interference.
Another case mentioned is Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, who said he campaigned in Florida for Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz ahead of her primary in August.
The fact sheet also accuses some Canadian citizens of illegally participating in US elections, naming 11 people who were charged or convicted of voting between 2012 and 2024. However, the document offers no evidence linking them to efforts by the Canadian government to interfere in US elections.
"All Canadians should avoid seeking to participate in or influence US elections in any form. Americans decide America's elections," the embassy statement said.
The fact sheet was released a week after US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said Washington was closely monitoring Canada ahead of the midterms. "We are watching, we are assessing, and if any part of it becomes election interference, the US will respond," Hoekstra said in a podcast interview, according to The Canadian Press.
The US and Canada are long-standing allies, but relations have frayed since Trump returned to power. Beyond launching a trade war with Canada, the Republican leader has repeatedly threatened to make Canada the 51st US state.
There have also been reports that separatist leaders in Alberta sought support from Trump administration officials ahead of a referendum on the province's independence. Before the October 27 provincial vote, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney voiced concern about US interference, saying Canada expects foreign governments to stay out of its elections.
"Our expectation, to be clear, of foreign governments, including the US, is that we do not interfere in their elections and they do not interfere in ours," Carney told Global News.
Al Jazeera said it contacted the Prime Minister's Office, Global Affairs Canada, the office of Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Minister Joly's office for comment.
