'No merit' to U.S. claims that Canada is interfering ahead of midterms: Carney

Prime Minister Mark Carney says there is "no merit" to American claims that Canadians might be interfering in U.S. politics ahead of November's midterm elections.

Officials in the Trump administration, including U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, have claimed Canadian politicians are interfering in the democratic process south of the border.

Hoekstra said earlier this month that the administration is watching Canadian politicians closely ahead of the midterms and warned them to keep their "nose out" of American politics.

The U.S. embassy in Canada on Wednesday released a list of quotes from Canadian politicians which it claimed indicate "plans to influence American politics."

The quotes, cited by the embassy as "fact" without any context, include Industry Minister Mélanie Joly's comments about pressuring American businesses and targeting U.S. states, which addressed Canada's response to American-imposed tariffs.

Some of the claims on the list date back to March 2025, when President Donald Trump's first wave of tariffs on steel and aluminum came into effect.

Another claim relates to the anti-tariff ad which the government of Ontario aired a year ago.

Carney and other Canadian officials have repeatedly dismissed claims of political interference.

"There is no merit to these claims," Carney told reporters Friday in Istanbul. "I'm disappointed that their envoy sees that as his role, to make these suggestions."

Canadian diplomats were told in a memo issued by Global Affairs Canada on Tuesday not to meet with or attend events with candidates in the U.S. midterm elections during a period of "heightened sensitivity."

Carney suggested in his comments to media that Canada had already given such a directive in order to avoid "unsubstantiated allegations."

"Our Global Affairs group, well in advance of these fact sheets and allegations, has been reminding everybody, be careful who you are even seen with physically in the same place," he said.

"We have a very deep diplomatic presence in the United States. We have lots of interaction with American companies, citizens, individuals, stakeholders more broadly. We're very, very careful to not be seen to interfere."

Political tensions between Ottawa and Washington ramped up after efforts to secure a deal on tariffs and other trade irritants fell apart at the eleventh hour in August. Canada and the United States have since levied new waves of tariffs on billions of dollars worth of goods crossing the border.

The prime minister said Friday that Canada is continuing to engage with the Trump administration on trade.

He said that while Canada is ready to return to the bargaining table when the United States is willing to negotiate in good faith, he isn't in a rush to strike a deal.

"If it has to be months from now or longer than that, or another administration before a proper deal comes into place, we will do that," Carney said.

Asked whether he thought an agreement was possible before the U.S. midterms, Carney said, "It's up to the United States."

"They're a little difficult to predict."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2026.

By Craig Lord | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.