Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday dismissed accusations that Canada planned to interfere in next month’s United States midterm elections, saying the claims had no merit and that he was disappointed in comments made by the American ambassador.
“There is no merit to these claims,” Carney told reporters during an official visit to Turkey. He said Canada had no intention of interfering in the November 3 elections, and that he was disappointed the American envoy saw making such suggestions as his role.
How the dispute started
The row began with the United States embassy in Canada, which said on Wednesday that Ottawa brushes off concerns about potential interference even as its ministers and premiers openly describe plans to influence American politics. A week earlier, Ambassador Pete Hoekstra told a podcast that his message to Canadians was to keep their nose out of American politics, and that the United States would respond if Canadian actions amounted to election interference.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who was also quoted in the embassy’s material, said he had no interest at all in interfering in American elections, adding that the people of the United States would make their own determination in the midterms. Industry Minister Melanie Joly said her trips to the United States were about attracting investment, and that it was absolutely not fair to suggest Canada might interfere.
A colder relationship
Carney’s remarks underline how chilly bilateral relations have become since Canada walked away from talks on a possible trade deal in late August, citing unreasonable American demands. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on Canadian imports and frequently suggests he could annex the country, while his approval rating at home sits at record lows.
As Reuters reported, Carney said Canada was in no rush to sign a deal and suggested Ottawa might wait until Trump’s term was over, or until another administration was in place, before a proper deal could be reached.
His trip to Turkey is part of a campaign to reduce Canada’s heavy reliance on the American economy. The interference dispute, in that light, is about more than one election. It is about whether two neighbours can disagree sharply on trade and still trust each other enough to keep talking, and this week the answer from Ottawa was blunt: the accusations are baseless, and Canada will not accept them in silence.
