OTTAWA — U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra is challenging Ottawa's recent travel advisory, asserting that Americans do not routinely search phones at the border. He emphasized that while some Canadians may have faced difficulties entering the United States, these instances are not indicative of a broader trend. "We welcome Canadians to come in and invest, to spend their hard-earned Canadian dollars at U.S. businesses," Hoekstra stated in an interview with The Canadian Press on Friday.

In April, the Canadian government updated its travel advice, warning citizens about potential detainment if denied entry into the U.S. The advisory included a note to "expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including of electronic devices." Reports have surfaced of Canadians experiencing increased scrutiny, with some having their phones searched and facing detainment.

Hoekstra dismissed these concerns, saying, "Searching devices and all of that is not a well-founded fear. We don’t do that. America is a welcoming place." He acknowledged that some Americans have also reported feeling unwelcome in Canada. "I’ve heard that from Americans coming into Canada as well, OK? Saying, ‘You know, we’ve not received a warm reception when we’ve gotten to Canadian customs,’" he added.

When pressed about reports of arbitrary phone searches and lengthy detentions, Hoekstra mentioned that there are consular cases of Americans who have complained to the embassy regarding the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). He suggested that these might be isolated incidents, saying, "There may have been a Canadian border person who was having a bad day, and thought they’d take it out on, you know, somebody across the border."

The CBSA responded to these claims, stating that its officers adhere to a strict code of conduct and ethics, which mandates equal treatment for all travelers. Spokeswoman Karine Martel emphasized, "Employees are expected to conduct themselves in a way that upholds the values of integrity, respect, and professionalism at all times."

Hoekstra reiterated that the choice to travel to the U.S. lies with individuals. "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 remarked.

He referenced CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour, who recently prepared for her U.S. visit as if she were "going to North Korea," using a burner phone devoid of personal information, only to find a warm reception upon arrival. "It’s like, (let’s) get past the rhetoric and let’s look at the real experiences that people are having here," Hoekstra said.

Meanwhile, airlines have been reducing flights between Canada and the U.S. due to decreased demand. Flight Centre Travel Group Canada reported a nearly 40 percent drop in flights between the two countries year-over-year in February. A survey conducted in early May by Leger Marketing for the Association for Canadian Studies revealed that 52 percent of respondents believe it is no longer safe for all Canadians traveling to the U.S., while 29 percent disagreed and 19 percent were unsure. Additionally, a similar proportion expressed feelings of being unwelcome in the U.S. LGBTQ+ groups have also chosen to forgo attending World Pride events in Washington and United Nations events in New York, citing concerns over border scrutiny as the Trump administration reduces protections for transgender and nonbinary individuals.