// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
US embassy accuses Canada of election meddling ahead of midterms
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford deny that their country is interfering in the US midterm elections
The US Embassy in Ottawa has accused Canadian officials of election meddling ahead of the November midterms.
The embassy said Canadian leaders have brushed off concerns over "potential interference", and that ministers and premiers "openly describe plans to influence American politics in official documents and public appearances".
Canadian leaders, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, have dismissed the claims. Relations between the North American neighbours have hardened during second Trump administration.
The midterms will determine which political party controls both branches of the US Congress, which could have a significant impact on the rest of Donald Trump's presidency.
The fact sheet released by the US Embassy on Wednesday alleges the Canadian government "brushes off concerns about potential interference in U.S. elections, even as its ministers and premiers openly describe plans to influence American politics in official documents and public appearances".
It cites comments and actions, like meetings with US Democrats and calling for retaliatory tariffs against the US.
For example, it says that when Industry Minister Mélanie Joly was asked what she expected regarding tariffs if Democrats were to win midterm elections, she responded, "That's exactly why I'm meeting so many governors and potential presidential candidates."
Ontario Premier Doug Ford pushed Canada's federal government, it states, to consider additional retaliatory tariffs on imports from "politically significant states to the current administration's base of support".
Asked on Wednesday about the allegations, Carney noted that it was the US that first initiated trade actions against Canada.