Federal agency contacted amid U.S. interference claims in Quebec election

Quebec’s election campaign has been shaken by allegations that U.S. actors may be trying to influence the province’s vote, prompting the governing Coalition Avenir Québec to contact Canada’s federal intelligence service, CSIS. Premier Christine Fréchette said she became concerned after reading reports from a U.S. think tank and a Quebecor news story about possible American efforts to deal directly with Quebec on tariff issues. She said her office asked for a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney and that her party reached out to CSIS, which later met with provincial representatives. Fréchette said her government has not received any evidence confirming interference. Federal Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Ottawa is taking the allegations seriously, while opposition leaders called for more transparency and said they had seen no proof of foreign meddling.