After a year of ministers touring swing states and targeting tariffs at “politically sensitive” places, Canada has ordered nearly 500 diplomats to avoid any interaction with American ballot precincts and photography opportunities during the November 3 midterms.
According to reports, Canadian diplomats stationed in the United States now require approval from their home office before engaging in activities involving U.S. election officials. The directive also prohibits taking photographs with elected American officials. Sources indicate that the move aims to prevent the Trump administration from accusing Canada of interference if such allegations arise.
Those accusations have already surfaced. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa published a fact sheet on October 21 titled “Monitoring Canadian Activities in U.S. Politics,” which describes what it calls Canadian efforts to influence American politics and concludes with the statement: “Americans decide America’s elections.”
Five of the quoted statements came from Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, including remarks about leveraging U.S. businesses and selecting states for retaliatory tariffs. Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Liberal MP Anthony Housefather’s campaigning for a Democrat in a Florida primary also appeared on the list. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra referenced former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s September 22 attack on the Trump administration at Brown University.
Hoekstra, speaking on a podcast released October 14, stated that Washington is “closely watching” Canadian politicians and singled out Joly for discussing targeted tariffs in “politically sensitive” states. He warned that crossing into interference would prompt a strong U.S. response.
Joly has repeatedly asserted that Canada would never interfere in elections and that her U.S. trips are focused on attracting investment. Ford has denied any intent to interfere, stating Americans will decide the midterms. Prime Minister Mark Carney claimed the United States initiated trade actions and that Canada’s retaliatory measures protect Canadian workers.
The situation follows a year of Ottawa and Queen’s Park actively engaging in American political affairs. Ontario’s World Series commercial, which repurposed Ronald Reagan’s voice to criticize tariffs, preceded President Trump’s withdrawal from trade talks in October 2025. Since then, Canadian ministers have toured swing states, courted governors, and openly discussed the impact of counter-tariffs.
