The reported guidance was intended to prevent allegations of Canadian interference in U.S. elections from the Trump administration, according to Bloomberg Business and The Hill. The reports use different descriptions, including being told to avoid candidates, warned against appearing with them and allegedly barred from interacting with them.
The Japan Times reported that nearly 500 Canadian diplomatic staff work in the United States, including at the Canadian Embassy in Washington and 12 consulate offices. The reported restriction could affect routine contact between Canadian officials and U.S. political candidates, although the supplied reporting does not establish the extent of any such effect.
The supplied reports do not identify the Canadian authority that issued the guidance. They also do not establish its precise wording, legal status or scope, and present the matter as reported rather than explicitly confirmed by the Canadian government, according to Bloomberg Business, The Hill and The Japan Times.