Carney rejects U.S. claims Canada is meddling in American elections
Prime Minister Mark Carney says there is no merit to allegations from the Trump administration that Canada is interfering in U.S. elections. Speaking at a news conference in Turkey on Friday, he called the charges "unsubstantiated claims" and said Canada has no intention of interfering with U.S. democratic processes.
The dispute grew out of a document from the U.S. Embassy in Canada. The embassy circulated what it called a "fact sheet," accusing Ottawa of trying to sway U.S. politics. Carney said he was disappointed that U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra sees it as his role to make election-interference suggestions.
Hoekstra made his case in a podcast interview. He said the U.S. is closely watching Canadian activities. He cited Industry Minister Melanie Joly, who had talked about targeting retaliatory tariffs, which are taxes on imported goods imposed in response to trade measures, in politically sensitive U.S. states.
Trump adviser Peter Navarro also weighed in. According to reports, he told Canadian lobbyists to "get the hell out" of the United States and warned Canada against interfering in the U.S. midterm elections for Congress.
Carney said Canada has concerns about American interference in its own political processes. He said he would not engage in tit-for-tat, meaning he would not answer in kind. In dismissing the U.S. claim, he noted that the United States had initiated trade actions against Canada. Carney also said Canada will never be the 51st state.
