U.S. ambassador accuses Canada of potential election interference in midterms U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra has accused Canadian officials of potential election interference in the upcoming American midterms, citing an anti-tariff advertisement and comments about retaliatory tariffs. Former Canadian diplomats and politicians have defended the country's actions, stating that they are part of legitimate advocacy to raise awareness about the impact of U.S. policies on Canada. They argue that Canada is not influencing the election but rather establishing facts about the results of these decisions. Canada is not advocating for Americans to vote one way or another on Nov. 3, but presenting the facts and how they are affecting both sides of the border, says former Canada-U.S. IPG chair Wayne Easter. Ambassador Hoekstra Warns Of Election InterferenceU.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra says some actions from Canadian officials could be 'inferred to be election interference' in the looming American midterms. Former diplomats and an ex-parliamentarian say Canadian officials are doing what they should to raise concerns about the effect United States President Donald Trump is having on this country as his top diplomat in Ottawa suggests that there are concerns over alleged Canadian interference in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections.U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said his country is "closely watching" Canada, remarking on a recent appearance on thepodcast that "it appears that some of this-from our perspective-in the way we view our elections, could be inferred to be election interference." He cited an anti-tariff ad-featuring then-U.S. president Ronald Reagan criticizing the value of tariffs-that was briefly broadcast on American airwaves by the Ontario government a year ago. That ad resulted in Trump suspending trade talks with Canada. Hoekstra also cited comments from Industry Minister Mélanie Joly (Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Que. ) that retaliatory tariffs would target "politically sensitive states.Wayne Easter Defends Canadian Advocacy Efforts" Former Liberal MP Wayne Easter, a previous co-chair of the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group, said Canadian officials should continue to speak "loudly and clearly" about the effect of Trump's actions on Canada's industries and its people. "That's their job. That's not influencing the midterm elections. That's talking about issues," he said."If the president happens to hold some responsibility for that negative situation costing Canada, then I guess he better accept the responsibility. " Former Liberal MP Wayne Easter says Canada isn't influencing the U.S. midterm elections, but instead it is establishing 'some facts' on the result of the Trump administration's tariff policy. Ministers and premiers have routinely appeared on U.S. news networks explaining the downsides of Trump's tariffs against Canada."An election is all about decisions that have been made or about to be made. I think Americans should see what others around the world think about some of those decisions," Easter said."That's not influencing an election. That's trying to establish some facts on the results of some of these decisions that have been made.Former Diplomat Colin Robertson Calls Advocacy Legitimate" He said that Canada is not advocating for Americans to vote one way or another on Nov. 3, but rather is presenting the facts and how they are affecting both sides of the border. Hoekstra's comments came after Trump loyalist Peter Navarro warned Canada against election interference last month, including any Canadians lobbying on behalf of their country."Hoekstra, on behalf of his leader, is trying to find an excuse if things should go the wrong way in the midterms," he said. "It's kind of the game they play. never responsible for anything. " Former diplomat Colin Robertson, who previously led the Congressional outreach operation at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. , said that what Canada is doing in the U.S. is "legitimate advocacy." "When you're in the United States, you play by American rules, and that's fair game in the United States," he said. "Advocacy and using the public airwaves is just how it's done. ""They shouldn't.What we're doing is what we've been doing for years, and what other countries do, as well," Robertson said, remarking that it is the U.S. that has crossed the line by engaging with Alberta separatists, as The newspaper reported that Republican strategists were "on the ground" in Alberta, and that separatists gathered with members of the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C.Roy Norton Dismisses Trump Administration Accusations"I think it's very real American interference in the Alberta situation," Robertson said. "In my view, that constitutes foreign interference. " An anti-tariff ad broadcast on American airwaves by Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government remains a sore spot for the Trump administration. Former Canadian diplomat Roy Norton, who served as consul general in Detroit and Chicago, said that the Trump administration has an approach of accusing others of doing the thing that they are doing."It's all very up front and above board," Norton said, remarking that the Trump administration has cast Canada as playing a role in the president's domestic unpopularity. "It's nonsense. It's preposterous," he said.Pew Poll Shows Americans View Canada As Ally"These are deeply held impressions in the United States among voters of who their true friends and allies are. " Norton said that any effort to put blame at Canada's feet doesn't change the fact that this country is more popular with Americans than their own president. An"That's not because Canada is interfering in U.S. domestic politics." A recent Pew Research Centre poll found that 82 per cent of Americans view Canada as an ally of the United States, compared to 64 per cent who hold positive views of Trump. "The last thing that anybody can say is that we are trying to manipulate the U.S. political situation in any way," said Norton. "It's just the reverse of what the Americans are accusing us of. They are interfering in Canada's domestic politics." Trump previously tweeted that he suspended trade talks with Canada last year after Ontario ran the anti-tariff advertisement. "We are not going to allow Canada to do this and we are not going to negotiate with them," said the president. "This was a very stupid thing to do. It didn't work for them, it worked very poorly for them. "