The American ambassador to Canada is pushing back on Ottawa’s travel advice, saying his country doesn’t search phones at the border and arguing some Americans travelling here are having a tough time.

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

“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.”

In April, Ottawa updated its advice to Canadians travelling to the United States to warn them about the possibility they might be detained if denied entry.

“Expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including of electronic devices,” reads the new guidance.

There have been reports of Canadians facing intensified scrutiny at the border, having phones searched and, in some cases, being detained.

Hoekstra insisted concerns about device searches 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.

  • Albbi@lemmy.ca
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    22 hours ago

    The American ambassador to Canada is a grade F bullshitter and having him be the ambassador is yet another insult to Canada by the US government. There are many examples of his bullshit from when he was the ambassador to the Netherlands.

    • Moose@moose.best
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      21 hours ago

      Yeah I have not been fond of him so far. He’s trying to gaslight and manipulate us and isn’t addressing any of Canada’s complaints, just waving them off and changing the subject to how mean we are to the Americans for ‘no reason at all’.

  • wildbus8979@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    it’s an isolated event and it is not a pattern

    Fuck right off. They were literally doing EXIT inspections at the Vermont border during Memorial Day weekend.

    • normalexit@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      The people are welcoming, the government is not. I’d stay away a few years; hopefully there will be a huge correction. If not we’ll come to you.

      • BeBopALouie@lemmy.ca
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        21 hours ago

        I would say the people too. 60% is no small number. 30% voted and 30% did not vote who IMO are just as guilty by their apathy and avarice.

  • Cyv_@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    1 day ago

    Sure it’s not every person but now people know that they could be pulled aside and that could be more than just a wanding or patting down, but a series of strangers digging into the device that most people pour massive amounts of their life into. It’s pretty fucking fair to warn your citizens that could happen, and its very fair of them to decide it isn’t worth the risk.

    I’m American. Don’t fucking trust us. Our country is rapidly sliding down the slope to fascism, I hope we figure it out, but don’t fucking trust us. I know people here who wouldn’t bat a fucking eye at invading canada. Not many, but they exist. It’s just a shrug and a “well I’m not military but whatever trump says goes so…”

  • Stamau123@lemmy.worldOP
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    1 day ago

    “We welcome Canadians to come in and invest, to spend their hard-earned Canadian dollars at U.S. businesses,”

    “Oh God small pp fumbled the bag, please come back!”

  • Billiam@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    Relax everyone; it’s just a singular event. Just like how every right-wing white man who perpetuates an act of terrorism is a “lone wolf” and definitely not the logical culmination of the fearmongering propaganda espoused by the Republicans.

  • FaceDeer@fedia.io
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    1 day ago

    Pay no attention to the bad treatment! Ignore the 51st state rhetoric that Trump is still spouting despite me saying he was done! Give us money!