Carney Rejects US Election Interference Claims, Criticises Trump’s Ambassador

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has rejected US allegations that Canadian politicians are attempting to interfere in the November 3 US midterm elections, declaring the claims have “no merit” and expressing disappointment with US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra. The dispute has added to tensions between the two neighbours as their trade war continues and negotiations over tariffs remain stalled.

Speaking to reporters in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday, October 23, Carney responded to a fact sheet released by the US Embassy in Canada accusing Canadian ministers and provincial leaders of seeking to influence American politics. He said Canadian diplomats were careful to avoid even the appearance of electoral interference and criticised Hoekstra for making the allegations.

The embassy singled out Canadian Industry Minister Mélanie Joly for discussing retaliatory tariffs targeting Republican-led states and Ontario Premier Doug Ford for promoting an advertisement featuring former US President Ronald Reagan criticising tariffs. Trump cancelled trade talks with Canada after the advertisement aired during the World Series in October 2025.

The embassy also cited 11 Canadians charged with illegally voting in US elections between 2012 and 2026. However, it did not establish a connection between those cases and the Canadian government. The US State Department told The Associated Press that the embassy’s fact sheet spoke for itself.

Hoekstra, a Trump ally and former Republican congressman from Michigan, had previously warned Canadian politicians to keep their “nose out” of American politics, saying Washington was monitoring their activities. More than 280,000 people have signed a parliamentary petition seeking his removal, accusing him of normalising Trump’s threats against Canadian sovereignty.

US trade adviser Peter Navarro also warned Canada against interfering in the midterms, saying Washington would respond if Canadian actions affected elections in states such as Maine or Michigan.

Carney, meanwhile, suggested that US officials had also made statements concerning Canadian political affairs. In January, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described Alberta, where a separatist movement has sought independence, as a “natural partner” for the United States. Trump has repeatedly threatened to make Canada the 51st US state.

McGill University political scientist Daniel Béland dismissed the embassy’s examples as evidence of significant foreign interference and warned that the allegations could provide grounds for blaming Canada if Republicans lose seats in the midterms.

The dispute comes after trade negotiations collapsed in August, with Canada citing unreasonable US demands. Carney said Ottawa was ready to resume negotiations immediately if Washington approached the process in good faith. However, he indicated that Canada could wait months or until another US administration if necessary to secure an acceptable agreement.

Asked whether a deal could be reached before the November 3 elections, Carney said the decision rested with Washington. He added that Canada would not suspend its work because of the American election cycle.

“There have been a very broad range of justifications for US tariffs, and there's almost an industry to create justifications for them,” Carney said.

Reaffirming his country's independence, the Canadian prime minister said, “Canada will never be the 51st state. We are going our own way.”