A former Canadian diplomat has dismissed U.S. allegations of Canadian interference in the upcoming midterms elections as “noise.”
“I don’t think that it deserves much response,” Colin Robertson, a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, told CTV’s Your Morning on Thursday.
Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, suggested in an interview with “The Really Big Show” podcast released earlier this week that the actions of several Canadian politicians could amount to interference in the midterms, which will be held on Nov. 3.
He pointed to an advertising campaign run by Ontario Premier Doug Ford last year that featured a clip of former U.S. president Ronald Raegan talking about the benefits of free trade.
“Did that constitute any kind of interference? No, I think that’s advocacy,” Robertson said.
Hoekstra also criticized Industry Minister Melanie Joly for stating that Canadian counter-tariffs were designed to target certain states.
“Again, that’s quite justified,” Robertson said, as retaliatory action against the U.S. tariffs. “All of which international trade law recognizes.”
Having petitioned U.S. lawmakers in the past to advance Canada’s interests, Robertson said Canadian politicians are now trying to encourage American businesses to advocate against the trade war, on their behalf.
“We’re seeing this now ... Republican candidates are going out and saying, ‘well we shouldn’t be applying these tariffs.’ So they’re breaking with the president,” the former diplomat said.
“That’s Americans talking to Americans. That’s exactly what we want to see.”
Robertson said he wouldn’t be surprised if Trump blames Canada should Republicans lose the midterms.
“With Donald Trump, you’re never sure of anything,” he said. “And he’s of course made very clear that if he doesn’t win these midterms, it’s not his fault.”
Trump, after losing the 2020 presidential election, accused his opponent Joe Biden of election fraud.
On Wednesday, Trump told a crowd of supporters during a campaign rally in Bullhead City, Ariz., that Canada will “end up being the 51st state.”
He then listed a longstanding number of grievances that the U.S. has with Canada including Canadian tariffs on milk. He also spoke about car companies moving their factories to the U.S. and his renaming of Lake Ontario to “Lake America.”
“They’ll end up being the 51st state, because that’s the only way it works,” he said. “We don’t need them, but they need us.”
