Ottawa drafted travel advisories in response to Trump executive orders: report

Internal documents obtained through access to information laws reveal that federal officials prepared warnings for Canadians and permanent residents about traveling to the U.S. in response to executive orders signed by President Donald Trump earlier this year—but those warnings were never made public.

According to a report in the Globe and Mail, one draft document, titled “potential impact of EOs on Canadians travelling to the USA Draft travel advice updates,” was created by Global Affairs Canada's C Branch, which handles emergency response and travel advisories.

A section labeled “Scenarios and Options for Senior Management consideration. Communications to Canadians in the United States” advises that Canadians in the U.S. without valid documentation may want to return to Canada, the Globe reports.

The draft also addresses an executive order titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” which was signed on January 20.

The purpose of this U.S. order is to strengthen the screening and vetting process for foreign nationals entering the U.S.

U.S. civil rights groups have raised concerns that the order could pave the way for reinstating a travel ban targeting individuals from mainly Muslim or Arab countries—similar to the one President Trump introduced during his first term as president. .

A Global Affairs document created earlier this year includes drafts of various possible travel advisories that could be issued in reaction to potential developments, such as travel bans targeting specific countries, the Globe reports.

Most of the drafts emphasize that Canadian citizens and permanent residents would not be impacted.

Federal public servants reportedly also recommended specific changes to Canada’s official travel advice after President Trump signed an executive order in January stating that the U.S. government now only recognizes two genders: male and female.

It suggests a “generic update” to advice for Canadians with an X on their passport, rather than an F or M, that says “you might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the ”X" gender identifier."

It adds: “Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.”

The U.S. has said that its border agents will recognize Canadian passports with an X.

The Global Affairs document was obtained by researcher Ken Rubin through an access to information request and shared with the Globe and Mail.

In March, Global Affairs revised its travel advisory to inform Canadians staying in the United States for more than 30 days about a new U.S. regulation requiring them to register with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The following month, in April, the advisory was updated again to warn Canadians to “expect scrutiny” at the U.S. border, where officials might inspect electronic devices, such as phones and laptops.

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