OTTAWA — The U.S. ambassador to Canada has addressed recent concerns regarding the treatment of Canadians at the U.S. border, countering Ottawa's updated travel guidance. He asserted that the issues reported are not part of any consistent pattern.

"We welcome Canadians to come in and invest, to spend their hard-earned Canadian dollars at U.S. businesses," stated U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra in an interview with The Canadian Press.

"If a Canadian has had a disappointing experience entering 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," he emphasized.

In April, Canadian authorities updated their travel advice to warn about potential detention of Canadians denied entry into the U.S.

"Expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including of electronic devices," the guidance mentioned.

Reports have emerged of Canadians experiencing enhanced scrutiny at the border, including phone searches and detainment. However, Hoekstra claimed these concerns are unfounded.

"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. America is a welcoming place," he asserted.

Hoekstra noted that American travelers have shared similar concerns about interactions at Canadian borders.

"I've heard that from Americans coming into Canada as well, saying they haven’t always received a warm reception at Canadian customs," he remarked.

When queried about these incidents involving purported arbitrary phone searches and extended detainment of Americans, Hoekstra acknowledged complaints directed at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

"We’ve said this may have been an isolated event. There might have been a border person having a bad day," he commented.

The CBSA responded, affirming their officers' adherence to a code of conduct requiring equal treatment of all travelers. Complaints are investigated thoroughly.

"Employees are expected to conduct themselves with integrity, respect, and professionalism," CBSA spokesperson Karine Martel stated.

"Treating people with respect, dignity, and fairness is fundamental to our border services officers’ relationship with the public and a key part of this is serving all travelers in a non-discriminatory way," she added.

Ambassador Defends U.S. Border Practices Amid Canadian Concerns

Comments