Canadian diplomats based in U.S. advised to avoid appearing with midterm candidates

Darren Major · CBC News

· Posted: Oct 22, 2026 3:22 PM EDT | Last Updated: 17 minutes ago

The government of Canada has issued advice to all embassy and consulate staff to avoid appearing with U.S. midterm candidates, according to a source with knowledge of the notices.

Two separate notices were sent out in the last month, the source said.

Those instructions, which Global Affairs Canada describes as routine, come as Trump administration officials level accusations of "potential interference in U.S. elections" at Canadian officials.

In addition, the source said the government told diplomatic staff to be careful with their social media, not pick sides and not pose for photos with candidates. Bloomberg first reported news of the government notices.

The source characterized the advice as basic reminders.

• Canadians caught up in Trump voter fraud crackdown

"As part of regular business, Global Affairs Canada provides instructions to its Canadian missions abroad. Government officials are always instructed to limit public events and stakeholder engagement during election periods in their host country," a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada separately told CBC News.

The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa released a "fact sheet" on Wednesday that lists a number of instances it alleges could amount to "potential" interference, including a reference to Bernadette Jordan, Canada's consul general in Boston, appearing at a Canada-U.S. trade event with Democratic candidates last week.

WATCH | Carney, Ford respond to election interference claims:

The source told CBC News that the most recent bulletin was sent out last week before the U.S. Embassy issued its statement.

The embassy statement came after two Trump administration officials — trade adviser Peter Navarro and U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra — warned Canadians not to get involved in the U.S. midterms.

Hoekstra specifically mentioned Industry Minister Mélanie Joly in his comments on potential meddling. Four of the nine instances listed in the embassy release also reference Joly's comments about Canada's counter-tariff strategy, going back to March 2025 when she was in charge of foreign affairs.

Joly has pushed back on assertions that she's trying to influence the midterms and did so again on Thursday, saying she has met with both Republicans and Democrats during recent trips to the U.S.

"That is diplomacy, that's what we do," she told reporters during a news conference in Toronto.

WATCH | Canada 'absolutely not' interfering, Joly says:

The embassy's recent release also mentions the Ontario government's now infamous Ronald Regan ad that ran in the U.S. last year and comments made by Premier Doug Ford.

Both Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ford were asked about the embassy's statement during a news conference on Wednesday. Both denied that they're trying to sway the vote south of the border.

"The United States initiated a series of trade actions. We've responded to those to protect Canadian jobs, to protect Canadian companies and develop our economy," Carney said.

"All of our actions are in the interest of Canadian workers, Canadian families and the future of this economy."

Ford followed up by saying he has "no interest at all interfering in American elections."

"We're going to focus on what we can do here in Ontario and in Canada to make sure we protect our economy, protect the people and protect communities," the premier said.

WATCH | Trade war a major issue in midterms:

The trade war has become a pressure point on Republican candidates in border states like Michigan and Maine.

The Republican candidate for Michigan's open Senate seat released a new 30-second ad criticizing tariffs earlier this month.

"Here in Michigan we know that Canada is not our enemy. We need to end this tariff war now," Mike Rogers says in the ad.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who has represented Maine since 1997, has also tried to distance herself from Trump's tariffs.