There are a number of provisions that prohibit activities and spending by foreign entities in Canadian elections. Among them:
- Only individual Canadian citizens or permanent residents may contribute to parties, candidates, electoral district associations and leadership and nomination contestants (363(1)).
- Foreign entities may not incur regulated expenses as a third party (s. 351.1).
- Third parties may not use foreign funds for regulated activities (including advertising or partisan activities at any time) (s. 349.02).
- During an election period, it is illegal for any foreign person or entity to unduly influence an elector to vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate or registered party including by incurring expenses to promote a party or candidate or committing an offence under a federal or provincial law (s. 282.4(2)).
- Despite the above prohibition the Act provides that certain actions are not illegal undue influence, including expressing an opinion about the outcome or desired outcome of the election, encouraging electors to vote for someone at the election, or engaging in media activities at the election such as interviews, columns or news.
- Foreign broadcasting stations may not be used to influence a person to vote or refrain from voting per se or to vote for or against a particular candidate or party (s. 330).
For the bolded part, I would assume that asking a foreign nation or entity to either put off tariffs, or encouraging them to make statements in regards to the Canadian election would be illegal, although I am no lawyer. Perhaps someone with legal experience in this regard can weigh in.
Danielle Smith tells U.S. podcast she asked Trump administration to pause tariffs to bolster Conservatives
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