U.S. Embassy says Carney government brushing off 'potential interference' in midterms
Trump administration shares list of Canadians allegedly planning to influence elections
The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa says the federal government is brushing off concerns about "potential interference in U.S. elections" after Prime Minister Mark Carney insisted that Canada is not getting involved in the American midterms.
uncertain
Canada → say → midterms
U.S. officials have in recent weeks warned against what they describe as potential Canadian interference ahead of their Nov. 3 midterm elections.
asserted
they → warn → elections
In a release on Wednesday, the embassy suggested that the "Canadian government brushes off" the Trump administration's concerns.
uncertain
government → suggest → concerns
The release lists a number of statements by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly and other officials as examples of attempts to influence the midterms.
asserted
release → list → midterms
Both Carney and Ford were asked about the embassy's statement during a news conference on Wednesday.
asserted
Carney → ask → Wednesday
Both denied that they're trying to sway the vote south of the border.
asserted
they → deny → border
"The United States initiated a series of trade actions.
asserted
States → initiate → actions
We've responded to those to protect Canadian jobs, to protect Canadian companies and develop our economy," Carney said.
asserted
Carney → respond → economy
Ford followed up by saying he has "no interest at all interfering in American elections."
"We're going to focus on what we can do here in Ontario and in Canada to make sure we protect our economy, protect the people and protect communities," the premier said.
asserted
premier → follow → communities
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said last week that American officials are "closely watching" Canadian politicians for signs of election interference ahead of the midterms.
asserted
officials → say → midterms
Hoekstra pointed to Joly's comments about the strategy behind Canadian counter-tariffs and the Ontario government's now infamous Ronald Reagan ad that ran in the U.S. last year.
asserted
that → point → U.S.
Wednesday's embassy release listed a number of grievances that Hoekstra raised last week but also added more, including Canada's consul general in Boston, Bernadette Jordan, appearing at a Canada-U.S. trade event with Democratic candidates — as well Liberal MP Anthony Housefather canvassing for a Florida Democrat during a primary vote earlier this year.
asserted
Housefather → list → vote
About half of the instances listed on the embassy's release occurred in 2026, and a handful point to events from last year, including a federal government billboard campaign from early 2025.
asserted
handful → list → 2025
The release also alleges "Canada has the second-highest total of prosecutions for fraudulent or illegal voting of any country," while listing 11 Canadians who have been charged for illegally voting in past U.S. elections.
asserted
who → allege → elections
According to the release, while the alleged offences took place between 2012 and 2024 — the 11 Canadians were all charged or sentenced this year.
uncertain
Canadians → accord → 2012
Joly pushed back against Hoekstra's previous comments, telling reporters last week that Canada would never engage in election interference and would "never accept that also being done to us in Canada."
asserted
that → push → Canada
Joly said she has been to the U.S. in recent months and has met with Democrats and Republicans.
asserted
she → say → Democrats
Carney also told Global News last week that Canada doesn't "get ourselves involved in [foreign] elections."
asserted
ourselves → tell → elections
Peter Navarro, one of Trump's top trade advisers, also suggested Canada could interfere in the midterms during an economic conference in Washington last month.
uncertain
Canada → suggest → Washington
"The problem you have is you lobby this country and you've been successful in the past and you think you can keep doing that," Navarro said of Canada's approach to trade talks.
asserted
Navarro → have → talks
That game is up and if you interfere in our elections in Maine or Michigan you will pay even more dearly.
asserted
you → interfere → Maine
The trade war has become a pressure point on Republican candidates running for the Senate in the two border states Navarro mentioned.
asserted
Navarro → become → states
The Republican candidate for Michigan's open Senate seat released a new 30-second ad criticizing tariffs earlier this month.
asserted
candidate → release → tariffs
"Here in Michigan we know that Canada is not our enemy.
asserted
Canada → know → Michigan
We need to end this tariff war now," Mike Rogers says in the ad.
asserted
Rogers → need → ad
Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who has represented Maine since 1997, has also tried to distance herself from Trump's tariffs.
asserted
who → represent → tariffs
The Globe and Mail reported recently that Republican political operatives were on the ground in Alberta earlier this year to help the separatist campaign.
asserted
operatives → report → campaign
CBC News previously reported that Alberta separatists also attended meetings in U.S. State Department offices in Washington, D.C., last year.
asserted
separatists → report → Washington
Since returning to the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump has made a number of public statements backing candidates in various countries, including Argentina and Hungary.
asserted
Trump → return → Argentina
The Aporia
