U.S. ambassador says Canadians facing device searches, detainment ‘not a pattern’

The American ambassador to Canada rejects Ottawa’s travel advice, saying that his country does not search the border phones and that some Americans traveling in Canada have a difficult period.

“We welcome Canadians to come and invest, spend their Canadian dollars hardened in American companies,” the American ambassador Pete Hoekstra told Canadian press in an interview on Friday.

“If a Canadian has had a disappointing experience to come to the United States, I do not deny that it happened, but I say that it is an isolated event and it is not a model.”

In April, Ottawa updated his advice to the Canadians going to the United States to warn them of the possibility that they could be detained if they were refused.

“Expect a meticulous examination at the entrance ports, including electronic devices,” reads new advice.

There have been Canadian reports faced with a meticulous examination at the border, rummaging through phones and in some cases held.

Hoekstra insisted on concerns about research on devices that are not based on reality.

“Coming to the United States, it’s a decision for Canadians to take. Looking for devices and all of this is not a well-founded fear. We don’t do that. America is a welcoming place,” he said.

The Americans also examined on the border: Hoekstra

He said some Americans had expressed similar concerns about Canada.

“I also heard that Americans coming to Canada, ok? By saying,” You know, we did not receive a warm reception when we arrived at the Canadian customs “,” he said.

When asked if these American traveler reports involve research on arbitrary phone and long detention, Hoekstra said there were consular cases of Americans complaining at the Embassy of the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA).

“We said,” Ok, it may have been an isolated event. There may have been a Canadian border person who was spending a bad day, and thought they would take it, you know, someone on the other side of the border “,” he said.

In a statement, the CBSA said that its officers were following a code of conduct and the Federal Ethics Code which forces them to deal with everyone too and that the agency is investigating any complaints of ill -treatment.

“Employees should go so as to maintain the values ​​of integrity, respect and professionalism at any time,” said spokesperson Karine Martel.

“Treating people with respect, dignity and equity is fundamental for the relationship of border services agents with the public and a key element of this is to serve all travelers in a non -discriminatory manner.”

Hoekstra said travel to the United States are up to individuals.

“If you decide that you are not going to go down or anything, it’s your decision and you miss an opportunity. There are great things to see in America,” said Hoekstra.

He also noted the case of CNN journalist, Christiane Amanpour, who recently declared that she was preparing to visit the United States last month as if she “went to North Korea” – with a “burner phone” which had no personal information – only to live a warm welcome.

“It’s like, [let’s] Go beyond rhetoric and look at the real experiences that people have here, “said Hoekstra.

Airlines have reduced flights between Canada and the United States due to a collapse of demand, and Flight Center Travel Group Canada said almost 40% of flights between the two countries from one year to February.

A survey at the beginning of May led by light marketing for the association for Canadian Studies revealed that 52% of respondents believe that “they are no longer sure for all Canadians who travel to the United States”, with 29% in disagreement and 19% saying that they were not sure. About the same proportion said that it felt personally unwelcome in the United States

The 2SLGBTQ + groups have opted for world pride events in Washington and the United Nations events in New York, citing a careful examination at the border while the Trump administration reduces the protections against transgender and non -binary.