The United States has accused Canadian politicians of trying to influence the midterm elections, pointing to Canada’s efforts to resist President Donald Trump’s tariff campaign.
In a fact sheet released Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy accused Canada of ignoring allegations of election interference.
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“The Canadian government has dismissed concerns about possible interference in the U.S. election, even though ministers and the prime minister have publicly stated in official documents and in public their plans to influence U.S. politics,” the fact sheet reads.
The two countries have been locked in a trade war since the inauguration of President Trump’s second term in 2025, with Canada countering U.S. tariffs with its own import taxes.
But the U.S. Embassy has identified the official statement on tariffs as an attempt to sway the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Politicians named in the fact sheet included Canadian Industry Minister Mélanie Joly. The fact sheet pointed to comments Jolie made in August about President Trump’s response to tariffs.
“We’re also targeting products that target states in the United States. So we’re using political pressure wisely and strategically,” Jolie said at the time.
The embassy also took issue with Jolie’s meetings with Democratic Party officials in Boston and Chicago in September. Asked by a reporter what she thought would happen regarding tariffs if Democrats won the midterm elections, she said, “That’s exactly why I’m meeting with so many governors and potential presidential candidates.”
Mr. Jolie rejected suggestions that his actions could amount to interference, saying Canada would never interfere in U.S. elections. He said his talks with U.S. politicians, both Democratic and Republican, were about building Canada’s economy.
“Basically, what I’ve been doing in the United States is attracting investment,” she told reporters on Oct. 14.
The embassy also cited Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s calls for retaliation against U.S. goods and the government’s advertising campaign launched last year against President Trump’s tariffs.
The campaign, which featured footage of former US President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs in a 1987 radio speech, urged President Trump to halt trade talks with Canada in October 2025.
The embassy cited several examples of Canadian officials attempting to influence U.S. trade policy, but did not explain how those efforts constituted interference.
Other examples of alleged election interference include what Libertarian Rep. Anthony Housefather said he campaigned for in Florida on behalf of Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz ahead of the August primary.
The fact sheet also accused Canadian individuals of illegally participating in U.S. elections and named 11 individuals who were prosecuted or sentenced for voting between 2012 and 2024.
However, the sheet provided no evidence linking these citizens to the Canadian government’s efforts to intervene in U.S. elections.
“All Canadians should refrain from participating in or attempting to influence U.S. elections in any way,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement. “American elections are decided by Americans.”
The fact sheet was released a week after U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said the U.S. government was closely monitoring Canada for any signs of interference ahead of the midterm elections.
“We’re monitoring it, we’re evaluating it, and if some of it turns out to be election interference, the United States will respond,” Hoekstra said in an interview on the podcast “The Really Big Show,” according to the Canadian Press.
The United States and Canada have long been allies, but relations have deteriorated since President Trump returned to office.
In addition to inciting a trade war with Canada, Republican leaders have repeatedly threatened to make Canada the 51st state.
There are also reports that secessionist leaders in Alberta have asked Trump administration officials for help ahead of the defeat of the province’s independence referendum this week.
Ahead of Monday’s provincial vote, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney cited concerns about possible U.S. interference in the referendum, saying Canada expects foreign governments not to participate in its elections.
“Let me be clear: Our expectation of foreign governments, including the United States, is that we do not interfere in their elections, and they do not interfere in our elections,” he told Global News.
Al Jazeera has contacted Canada’s Office of the Prime Minister and International Affairs, as well as the offices of Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Industry Minister Jolie, for comment.
