Hoekstra Tells Business Leaders Canada May Bear Blame for GOP Midterm Losses
The US ambassador to Canada reportedly suggested that Prime Minister Mark Carney could face political heat if Democrats win key swing states next month, a claim Ottawa has called an unusual framing.
By Bianca Herrera ·
Pete Hoekstra, the US ambassador to Canada, reportedly told business leaders that Canada could be held responsible if Republicans lose key seats in the midterm elections scheduled for next week. According to a report by CTV News released on Wednesday, Hoekstra made the comments during a closed-door session. He specified that if Democrats win races in states such as Maine and Michigan, Donald Trump might attribute the losses to Canada. This suggestion adds to the ongoing friction between the two nations.
The remarks place the diplomatic relationship at the center of a domestic political calculation in Washington. Hoekstra’s comment implies that the outcome of US elections could directly influence the tone of bilateral negotiations. Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to the reports by calling the idea an interesting way of framing the situation. Carney noted that while Canada will pursue a trade deal if one becomes possible, negotiators are not currently in that position.
The exchange occurs against a backdrop of a months-long tariff dispute. Ottawa has implemented retaliatory measures against goods from US states that rely heavily on Canadian trade. Hoekstra has frequently criticized Canadian officials for influencing American politics. He pointed to Canadian politicians who criticized tariffs in US media and an anti-tariff advertisement from Ontario that aired on American television. He told a Canadian podcast that if the actions become election interference, America will respond, and he advised Canadians to keep their noses out of American politics.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, who has been a target of Hoekstra’s comments, stated that Canada would never accept such interference in its own political process. Speaking in Turkey, Carney said there was no merit to the claims of interference. He expressed disappointment that the US envoy views making such suggestions as part of his role. The ambassador has a history of controversial statements in Canada, including calling Trump’s proposal to make Canada the 51st state a sign of affection.
A petition signed by more than 225,000 Canadians this year demanded Hoekstra’s expulsion from the country. The petition argued that his statements breached diplomatic protocols, specifically the ban on interfering in a host country’s internal affairs. Roland Paris, a foreign affairs adviser to former prime minister Justin Trudeau, described the recent remarks as extraordinary. He argued that the comments appeared designed to manufacture a pretext for the Trump administration’s political difficulties rather than to manage tensions.
The US embassy has denied that Hoekstra explicitly said Canada would be blamed for a weak Republican result. A statement from the embassy described his words as grossly taken out of context from a broader discussion. The embassy maintained that Americans will decide their elections based on issues important to them, not Canadian concerns. Hoekstra remains a polarizing figure, having previously delivered an expletive-laden tirade at Ontario’s trade representative during a business event last year.
Former president Barack Obama mocked Trump’s fixation on Canada at a Democratic rally in Detroit last week. Obama referred to Canada as a historical adversary and noted that Canadians gave Americans Martin Short and maple syrup. The upcoming midterm elections will determine the balance of power in the US Congress, with several competitive races in the Great Lakes region expected to draw national attention.
