U.S. ambassador downplays fears of Trump administration meddling in Canadian politics

U.S. Embassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra is downplaying concerns America's young subject certificate strategy could top to his government supporting political movements in Canada.

The national security strategy states the U.S. Government will "reward and encourage" governments, political parties and movements "broadly aligned" with its principles and strategy.

In a wide-ranging year-end interview with The Canadian Press, Trump's representative in Canada said the language in the national security document could be interpreted "broadly."

"Let's just kind of see how this plays out, OK," Hoekstra said. "It can be interpreted in a bunch of different ways."

But while Hoekstra said he doesn't see the U.S. Getting involved in domestic politics, he accuses Ontario of doing just that by running an ad on American TV networks quoting former U.S. President Ronald Reagan attacking tariffs.

"I don't remember many Canadians expressing much concern about the political engagement of a Canadian government into U.S. Politics," he said, after describing Ontario's fall ad campaign as a "specifically targeted political intervention against the president."

But former diplomats and critics warn the new strategy could be a blueprint for American interference in Canada's domestic affairs.

Bob Rae, Canada's former ambassador to the United Nations, wrote in Policy Magazine that Canada has been "put on notice that the current United States government will be actively supporting political parties and movements in our country that align themselves with Trumpian policies."

U.S. Ambassador Hoekstra accuses Canada of meddling in U.S. Politics with Ontario anti-tariff ad

Former Canadian diplomat Artur Wilczynski called the document "deeply problematic" and said it may signal U.S. Support for actors aligned with Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement or "overtly hostile to Canada" — and noted the ambassador didn't clearly state the U.S. Would never meddle.

He said the wording in the national security document suggests the U.S. Would consider "using various instruments of trade craft of their broader national security apparatus to achieve their objectives in the hemisphere."

"It can manifest in lots of ways," Wilczynski said, adding it could spell anything from undermining Canada's immigration and refugee system to aiding separatists and groups that support Trump's goal of having Canada become the 51st state.

"They will take advantage of whatever tools they have, whether it's funding, whether it's overt or covert. They're basically hinting that they'll do it," he said.

But Hoekstra insists the Canada-U.S. Relationship had turned the page on the notion of Trump making Canada the 51st state and that the two nations' leaders have "moved beyond it."

"The president and the prime minister seem to have gone well beyond it," Hoekstra said. "They're now joking about it."

The ambassador pointed to an October meeting in Egypt where Trump accidentally called Carney president, Carney said "I'm glad you upgraded me to president," and Trump said, "at least I didn't say governor."

Later that month, Trump ended trade talks with Canada over the Ontario anti-tariff ad.

Reporter

Kyle Duggan is a reporter for The Canadian Press.

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