Carney rejects U.S. claim that Canada is meddling in the midterms

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has rejected accusations from Washington that Canadian politicians are interfering in the U.S. congressional elections on Nov. 3. “There is no merit to these claims,” Carney said on Friday at a news conference in Istanbul, according to The Canadian Press. He said he was disappointed that it was the U.S. ambassador spreading such claims. With its extensive diplomatic presence in the United States, Canada takes great care to avoid even the appearance of interfering in elections, he said.

The U.S. ambassador in Ottawa, Pete Hoekstra, said on a podcast earlier in October that President Donald Trump’s administration was closely watching Canadian politicians ahead of the midterms and told them to stay out of American politics. He named Industry Minister Mélanie Joly. According to CTV, the U.S. Embassy later released a fact sheet alleging Canadian interference in 2025 and 2026 that, besides Joly, also names Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Liberal lawmaker Anthony Housefather.

Canadian diplomats in the United States were instructed this week not to meet with congressional candidates or attend their events during a period of “heightened sensitivity.” According to Carney, the foreign ministry had warned long before the accusations to be careful about who one is even seen with. Asked whether the U.S. might blame Canada for Republican losses and respond with tariffs, Carney said he did not see that happening but could not predict U.S. actions.