Canadian diplomats banned from being in the same room as U.S. midterm candidates: sources - National Post

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks to journalists before a Cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa October 20, 2026. Photo by Blair Gable /PostmediaArticle contentCanadian diplomats working in the US have been directed to stay away from candidates running in the midterm elections, and to keep a low profile to avoid allegations by the Trump administration of political interference, people familiar with the matter said.

Under written guidance distributed Tuesday, Canadian officials are barred from meeting with or even being in the same room as midterm candidates — all House candidates and a third of the Senate — unless given special permission.

Canadian officials are still allowed to conduct other business and meetings with elected US representatives who are not up for reelection, if necessary. But they’ve been told to ensure they don’t appear in photographs alongside any elected US officials, according to people who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the internal memo, which called the measures a “very risk-averse approach.”

Nearly 500 Canadian diplomatic staff work in the US, including at its embassy in Washington and across 12 consulate offices in cities such as Detroit, Los Angeles, Dallas and Atlanta. The measures apply until the midterm vote on Nov. 3.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford addressed the U.S. Embassy’s statement in a press conference on Parliament Hill on October 21, 2026. Photo by Blair Gable /PostmediaArticle contentThe guidance is a sign of the highly charged atmosphere as President Donald Trump’s party faces the prospect of a resounding midterm defeat. The House is seen as virtually certain to swing to Democrats, while the Senate — once seen as a firewall of sorts for Republicans — looks to essentially be a tossup.

With Trump’s approval ratings hovering near a record low, Republicans are being forced to actively campaign in what would otherwise be safe Senate seats, such as Kansas and South Carolina. Voting is already under way in many key states.

Canada’s foreign affairs department didn’t immediately provide a comment in response to a request from Bloomberg.