U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra counters Ottawa’s travel advisory, saying his country doesn’t search phones at the border and arguing that some Americans traveling to Canada are also facing difficulties.

“We welcome Canadians to come in and invest, to spend their hard-earned Canadian dollars at U.S. businesses,” Hoekstra told The Canadian Press in an interview.

“If a Canadian has had a disappointing experience coming into the United States, I’m not denying that it happened, but I’m saying it’s an isolated event and it is not a pattern.”

Concerns Over Device Searches

In April, Ottawa updated its advice to Canadians traveling to the United States to warn them about the possibility they might be detained if denied entry. The new guidance reads, “Expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including of electronic devices.”

There have been reports of Canadians facing intensified scrutiny at the border, having phones searched, and in some cases, being detained. However, Hoekstra insisted these concerns are not grounded in reality.

“Coming to the U.S., that’s a decision for the Canadians to make. Searching devices and all of that is not a well-founded fear. We don’t do that. America is a welcoming place,” he said.

American Concerns in Canada

Hoekstra mentioned that some Americans have expressed concerns about their reception at Canadian customs.

“I’ve heard that from Americans coming into Canada as well, saying, ‘You know, we’ve not received a warm reception when we’ve gotten to Canadian customs,’” he added.

When asked about reports of arbitrary phone searches and lengthy detainments for Americans, Hoekstra acknowledged that there are consular cases of Americans complaining to the embassy about the Canada Border Services Agency.

In response, the CBSA stated that its officers follow a code of conduct that requires them to treat everyone equally and with respect.

Travel Decisions and Perceptions

Hoekstra emphasized that traveling to the U.S. is a personal decision.

“If you decide that you’re not going to come down or whatever, that’s your decision and you’re missing an opportunity. There are great things to see in America,” he said.

He also cited the experience of CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour, who despite preparing for a visit to the U.S. with caution, experienced a warm welcome.

Airlines have been reducing flights between Canada and the U.S. due to decreased demand, with a reported 40% drop in flights between the two countries year-over-year in February.

A survey in early May found that a significant portion of Canadians feel it is no longer safe to travel to the U.S., with many feeling unwelcome.

LGBTQ+ groups have opted out of attending World Pride events in Washington and United Nations events in New York, citing border scrutiny concerns as the Trump administration scales back protections for transgender and nonbinary people.

Source: The Globe and Mail.