Discord between the United States and Canada is heating up again! Washington raises concerns about Canadian interference in mid-term elections

As the U.S. midterm elections are approaching, the U.S. Embassy in Canada has accused Canadian leaders of "publicly" describing plans to "influence U.S. politics," raising questions about Canada's possible interference in the election.

Axios website reported on the 22nd that the US government’s accusations have further worsened relations between Washington and Ottawa. In the US-Canada trade war, the Canadian government has implemented retaliatory tariffs against the United States, impacting many politically important states and products. The U.S. Embassy in Canada released a "Fact List for Monitoring Canadian Activities in U.S. Politics" on the 21st, referring to these targeted tariffs and stating that "the Canadian government has dismissed concerns about possible interference in U.S. elections, even though its ministers and governors have openly described plans to influence U.S. politics in official documents and public occasions."

The list of facts cites multiple conversations by Canadian Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, one of which was at a press conference in August when she said Canada was "smartly and strategically exerting political pressure on products that would affect U.S. states." Another was when she was foreign minister in March last year, when she said she was "making sure to put pressure on the U.S. business community and in key Republican states to put pressure on the Trump administration."

The list also cites Zhao Meilan's meeting with Democratic officials in Boston and Chicago in September, Canada's ruling Liberal Party Congressman Anthony Housefather campaigning for Florida Democratic Congressman Debbie Wasserman Schultz in August, and the provincial government led by Ontario Governor Doug Ford launching an anti-tariff advertising campaign in the United States last October. Ford said at the time, "We want to convey this message to every Republican constituency in the country again and again."

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra pointed out in a podcast interview broadcast at the beginning of the month that Ford's anti-tariff advertisements, as well as recent conversations between Chao Meilan and former Prime Minister Trudeau, may constitute political interference. As the midterm elections are approaching, the United States is "paying close attention" to signs that Canadian politicians may interfere in the elections. He warned Canada to "stay out" of American politics.

Canadian Prime Minister Carney was asked about these accusations by the US Embassy and said that "all our actions are for Canadian workers, families and the future of the Canadian economy." Zhao Meilan recently responded to Hoekstra, saying that Canada "never" interferes in U.S. elections.