The US Embassy in Ottawa says it is monitoring Canadian political activity for possible interference in the American midterm elections. On October 21 it released a fact sheet listing quotes from Canadian officials that it says indicate “plans to influence American politics.”
The document, titled “Fact Sheet: Monitoring Canadian Activities in U.S. Politics,” cites Industry Minister Melanie Joly five times, pointing to her remarks about pressuring American businesses and targeting US states in response to American tariffs. It also lists a billboard campaign, an anti-tariff TV ad run by the Ontario government last year, and eleven individual Canadians.
The fact sheet follows comments by US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra on The Really Big Show podcast, where he said Washington is “closely watching Canadian activities” ahead of the midterms and that some of it “could be inferred to be election interference.” He cited Joly’s statements and the Ontario ad, which used the voice of Ronald Reagan speaking against tariffs. “Keep your nose out of American politics,” Hoekstra said. “We’re monitoring it, we’re evaluating it, and if some of it becomes election interference, you know, then America will respond to it.”
Canada rejected the claim. Joly said it was “absolutely not” fair of the ambassador to suggest Canada would interfere and that Canada “would never do that.” Prime Minister Mark Carney did not directly address the accusations but pointed out that the United States initiated the trade actions against Canada. The midterms are set for November 3.
Source: Politico
