Hoekstra says U.S. officials are watching Canada for signs of election interference

U.S. watching for Canadian interference: Hoekstra
U.S. watching for Canadian interference: Hoekstra
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra poses for a portrait at the U.S. Embassy, in Ottawa, Friday, June 6, 2025.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Writer

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra says American officials are "closely watching" Canadian politicians for signs of election interference.

During a recent interview on the "The Really Big Show" podcast, Hoekstra said political ads run by the province of Ontario last year could be interpreted as political interference.

He also cited recent comments by Industry Minister Mélanie Joly and former prime minister Justin Trudeau and suggested they also could amount to interference.

Hoekstra went on to warn Canadian politicians to keep their "nose out" of American politics in the weeks before the midterm elections.

He said that if any actions end up amounting to election interference, the United States will respond.

The president has been actively campaigning in battleground states ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, which could end Republican control over Congress.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2026.

By Catherine Morrison | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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