OTTAWA — Global Affairs Canada has instructed Canadian diplomats posted in the United States to avoid meeting with or attending events featuring candidates in the U.S. midterm elections and to take steps to prevent any public association if they happen to be in the same space.
Risk-averse guidance comes from senior departmental official
The direction came via a memo sent midday Tuesday by Glen Linder, assistant deputy minister for the Americas at Global Affairs Canada, to members of the foreign service in the United States. The memo, obtained by The Canadian Press, outlines conduct expected of diplomats during the voting period and highlights a desire by the department to take a "very risk-averse approach" given what it describes as "heightened sensitivity."
The memo says the guidance mirrors rules that apply during Canadian election periods, when public servants are expected to avoid contact with elected officials except in exceptional circumstances. It also instructs staff that if they find themselves "in the same physical space" as a candidate or an elected official they should take care to avoid being photographed or having their name or position appear in public communications.
"If diplomats are in the same physical space as a candidate or elected official, they should avoid being photographed or having their name or position appear in any public communications materials."
Context: tensions between Ottawa and Washington
The guidance was issued amid a period of strained rhetoric between Canada and the United States. The memo arrives as the Trump administration has accused Canadian politicians of interfering in American elections — an allegation the federal government has publicly disputed. The directive reflects a desire within Global Affairs to limit any potential perception of interference.
- Who issued the memo: Glen Linder, assistant deputy minister for the Americas, Global Affairs Canada.
- Primary instruction: Do not meet with or attend events with U.S. midterm candidates.
- Secondary steps: Avoid photographs or public naming if in same physical space as a candidate or elected official.
Ottawa's approach underscores how diplomatic practice often tightens during foreign elections to preserve impartiality and avoid the political optics that could complicate bilateral relations. The department's guidance signals a restrictive posture for public-service interactions in the United States while midterm campaigns are under way.
What the memo means for diplomats and public communications
For diplomatic staff in the U.S., the instructions mean actively avoiding candidate events, declining invitations that might place them alongside campaign figures, and ensuring that any unavoidable proximity does not produce photographic or public-record evidence of contact. The memo explicitly notes familiarity with domestic rules — the same expectations that govern Canadian federal employees during Canadian election periods — and applies those expectations abroad.
| Instruction | Practical effect |
|---|---|
| Avoid meeting or attending candidate events | Diplomats decline invitations; limit in-person outreach |
| Avoid being photographed or publicly identified | Reduce visibility in public communications; restrict social media tagging |
| Adopt risk-averse posture | Heightened internal scrutiny; potential extra approvals for engagements |
Global Affairs has not publicly released the full memo. The Canadian Press reported the contents after obtaining a copy. Ottawa’s central role as host to federal departments means this guidance will be watched closely by diplomats, stakeholders and political observers in the capital who follow Canada–U.S. relations and the conduct of the public service.
For residents of Ottawa, the memorandum is a reminder that foreign-policy decisions and the professional conduct of federal employees here can be shaped by developments abroad. It also highlights how Ottawa’s public institutions manage the delicate line between engagement and perceived interference in another country’s democratic process.
The Canadian Press first published the details of the memo on Oct. 22, 2026. Global Affairs Canada has been approached for further comment.
