Ottawa tells its diplomats not to meet with U.S. midterm candidates
OTTAWA — Canadian diplomats were directed this week not to meet with or attend events with candidates in the U.S. midterm elections.
Ottawa has instructed its diplomats to refrain from engaging with candidates running in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. Glen Linder, a senior official at Canada's Global Affairs department, issued a directive to foreign service members stationed in the United States on Tuesday. The memo, obtained by The Canadian Press, advises diplomats to refrain from photographing or publicly associating with any candidates or elected officials they may encounter during their duties.
This guidance aligns with protocols Canada employs during its own election periods, when public servants are expected to maintain a distance from elected officials, barring exceptional circumstances.
The directive arrives amid accusations by the Trump administration that Canadian politicians have been meddling in U.S. elections. Although Prime Minister Mark Carney has denied any interference, the memo reflects a heightened state of alert, prompting the department to adopt a "very risk-averse" stance. The report by The Canadian Press was originally published on October 22, 2026.
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- Ottawa tells its diplomats not to meet with U.S. midterm candidates globalnews.ca
- Ottawa tells its diplomats not to meet with U.S. midterm candidates winnipegfreepress.com
