Canada's top national security officials issued an unprecedented warning Monday, explicitly telling the United States to stay out of Canadian domestic affairs as election monitors prepare to watch for American interference in the upcoming federal vote.
The warnings, reported by Global News and CBC News, represent a remarkable deterioration in relations between allied democracies that have shared the world's longest undefended border and deep security cooperation for decades.
"We expect all countries, including the United States, to respect Canadian sovereignty and refrain from interfering in our democratic processes," a senior national security official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official confirmed that election monitoring agencies will specifically watch for U.S. interference alongside traditional threats from Russia, China, and Iran.
In Canada, as Canadians would politely insist, we're more than just America's neighbor—we're a distinct nation with our own priorities. Yet the fact that Canadian officials now explicitly list the United States among potential election interference threats illustrates how profoundly President Donald Trump's rhetoric has reshaped the bilateral relationship.
Trump has repeatedly suggested Canada should become "the 51st state," called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a "governor," and threatened economic retaliation if Canada doesn't comply with U.S. border and trade demands. While initially dismissed as provocative humor, these comments are now treated by Canadian officials as genuine threats to sovereignty.
Election monitors expressed particular concern about AI-assisted interference, including deepfake videos, manipulated audio recordings, and coordinated disinformation campaigns. The technology enables sophisticated interference at unprecedented scale, making attribution difficult and responses challenging.
"We're preparing for interference attempts we've never seen before," explained a senior election security official. "The combination of AI tools, social media amplification, and potential state actor involvement—including from countries traditionally considered allies—creates entirely new challenges."
The warnings come as Canada enters an election campaign expected in spring 2026, with Trudeau's governing Liberals trailing badly in polls against Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. Trump has made no secret of preferring Conservative governance in Canada, leading to concerns about potential U.S. actions to influence the outcome.
Canadian officials declined to specify what forms potential U.S. interference might take, but possibilities include coordinated disinformation campaigns, timing of tariff announcements to influence voting, or amplification of particular candidates through social media networks. The mere fact that officials consider such scenarios plausible reflects the relationship's deterioration.
Provincial reactions varied predictably. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who has cultivated relationships with Republican governors, downplayed interference concerns and accused federal officials of "fearmongering." Ontario and Quebec officials took the warnings more seriously, with Quebec sovereigntist parties citing them as evidence that Canada's independence remains incomplete.
Opposition leader Poilievre faced questions about whether he would reject potential U.S. support, given Trump's apparent preference for Conservative governance. Poilievre insisted he would "never accept foreign interference from any country," but declined to specifically criticize Trump's rhetoric about Canadian sovereignty.
The situation creates uncomfortable parallels with election interference concerns that typically involve authoritarian regimes rather than democratic allies. Security officials emphasized that all interference attempts would be treated equally seriously, regardless of source country—a statement implicitly acknowledging that threats now originate from traditional partners as well as adversaries.
"Democratic sovereignty means we choose our own government without external pressure," the national security official emphasized. "That principle applies to all countries, including those we've historically considered our closest allies."
The warnings underscore how profoundly Trump's presidency has reshaped North American relations. Canada and the United States are treating each other with the suspicion typically reserved for adversaries—election interference monitoring, explicit sovereignty warnings, and presumption of hostile intent rather than allied cooperation.
