Canadian Leaders Respond to U.S. Election Interference Claims

[ad_1]U. S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra speaks during a fireside chat at the Space Bound 2026 Conference in Gatineau, Que., on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Keito Newman - The Canadian PressOTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford both pushed back against allegations of Canadian interference in the U. S. midterms after the U. S. embassy in Canada shared a list of quotes from Canadian politicians that it claims show "plans to influence American politics." Industry Minister Mélanie Joly is mentioned five times in the list released by the embassy on Wednesday. The quotes provided lack context regarding pressuring American businesses and targeting U. S. states with counter-tariffs. Joly made those comments while discussing Canada's response to tariffs imposed by the U. S. The Canadian Press sought a comment from Joly, but she was unavailable for questions. During a news conference on Parliament Hill Wednesday, Carney - alongside Joly - addressed inquiries about the U. S. list by noting that it was the United States that started trade actions against Canada. "All of our actions are in the interests of Canadian workers, Canadian families and the future of this economy," Carney told reporters after announcing a $9 billion aid package due to U. S. tariffs. Ford, who is also cited in the embassy's release, stated he has "no interest at all" in meddling with American elections. "I'll tell you what the American people want. They want certainty, they want stability," Ford said, adding he spent two decades in the United States and "loves the American people." "We're going to focus on what we can do here in Ontario and in Canada to ensure we protect our economy, protect our people and protect our communities. That's where our focus will be, and it's up to the people of the United States to decide during the midterms." Around November 3rd, Americans will vote in midterm elections that could change Republican control over Congress. Earlier this month, U. S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra mentioned that American officials are "closely watching" for any signs of election interference from Canadian politicians. Diving into specifics during an interview on The Really Big Show podcast released on Oct. 14, Hoekstra indicated political advertisements run by Ontario last year might be seen as political interference. This followed President Donald Trump halting trade discussions with Canada in October 2025 after Ontario aired an ad during World Series featuring clips of former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs and advocating for free trade principles. Hoekstra also referenced recent statements from Joly and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as potentially crossing lines into interference territory. The ambassador cautioned Canadian politicians to keep their "nose out" of American politics leading up to election day. Trudeau criticized Trump’s administration during a talk at Brown University on Sept. 22. "There is a pattern here of doing things that are driving up prices for your consumers and not necessarily making anything better for America, by fighting with one of your oldest and best allies," Trudeau stated during this event. Diving deeper into her comments later on, Hoekstra noted Joly had discussed directing retaliatory tariffs towards "politically sensitive states." Lately pushing back against these claims last week, Joly informed reporters that Canada would never engage in election interference nor accept it happening within its own borders. "I've been visiting the U. S., meeting with both Democrats and Republicans," she mentioned."Fundamentally, what I've done in the U. S. is attract investments." She added that she believes good news about investments from various American companies into Canada would come soon; that's her ongoing strategy both there and globally.Hoekstra remarked if any actions taken by Canadians do lead to election interference, the United States will respond accordingly.The embassy’s post concluded by stating “Americans decide America's elections.”This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2026.- With files from Nick Murray and Catherine MorrisonThe Canadian Press[ad_2]Source link

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