U.S. Embassy details Canadian actions in new midterm interference report

The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa published a fact sheet on Wednesday that identifies specific Canadian actions it believes could constitute interference in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. The document lists four distinct instances of potential meddling, ranging from local political canvassing to federal advertising campaigns. These claims follow repeated warnings from American officials about Canadian involvement in the November 3 vote.

One item in the embassy’s release focuses on Liberal MP Anthony Housefather. The document notes that Housefather canvassed for a Florida Democrat during a primary earlier this year. Housefather has previously described the candidate as a friend. The embassy also cites comments made by Industry Minister Mélanie Joly regarding Canada’s counter-tariff strategy. Some of these remarks date back to March 2025, when Joly served as foreign affairs minister.

The list includes two major government communication efforts. The first is an Ontario government advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan that aired in the United States last year. The second is a federal billboard campaign that ran in early 2025. The embassy presented these items as evidence that Canadian officials are actively trying to influence the outcome of the midterms.

Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected the notion that his government is trying to sway the U.S. election. Speaking to reporters in Istanbul on Friday, Carney stated there is no merit to the claims. He expressed disappointment that the U.S. envoy sees it as his role to make such suggestions. Carney specifically named Ambassador Pete Hoekstra in his remarks.

The timing of the embassy’s release contrasts with the public actions of the current U.S. administration. President Donald Trump has endorsed candidates in Poland, Honduras, Colombia, and Japan since early 2025. He recently voiced support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of an election on Tuesday. Trump also backed former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s bid, which included a rally appearance by Vice President JD Vance in Budapest.

Daniel Drezner, a professor of international politics at Tufts University, described the situation as the pot calling the kettle black. He told CBC News that the administration has a long history of intervening in the elections of allies. Drezner noted that while Housefather’s canvassing might be unusual, other diplomatic meetings mentioned in the report are standard practice.

Former U.S. ambassador to Canada James Blanchard said the current administration lacks credibility to make these accusations. In an interview with Rosemary Barton Live, Blanchard said he would take the claims seriously from previous administrations, including those of Reagan, Bush, Obama, or Clinton. He said he cannot take them seriously from the current White House.

The trade dispute has become a focal point for Republican candidates in border states. Senator Susan Collins, who has represented Maine since 1997, said on Friday that she secured exemptions to tariffs. She posted on social media that she will continue working with administration officials to seek more relief. In Michigan, Republican candidate Mike Rogers released a 30-second ad criticizing the tariff war. Rogers said in the spot that Canada is not an enemy and that the war needs to end.

The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa declined to comment when asked if a Canadian official offering a similar endorsement to a U.S. candidate would amount to interference. The embassy’s list arrived after both Ambassador Hoekstra and Trump adviser Peter Navarro warned Canada against getting involved. Carney said on Friday that he does not expect the administration to blame Canada for poor midterm results or add new tariffs.