A member of Mexico’s ruling party claims that local media coverage of a revised Canadian travel advisory for Mexico was utilized to criticize Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Global Affairs Canada altered its travel advisory for Mexico on November 13, lowering the threat level for specific areas of Mazatlán on the Pacific Coast in Sinaloa. However, the remainder of the advisory remained unchanged. Local media erroneously reported that Canada had issued a new travel warning for Mexico covering 14 states and Mexico City, sparking a wave of reporting starting on Monday.
Canadian travel advisory updates often prompt news stories in target nations, sometimes without seeking clarification from Canadian authorities beforehand. This surge in reporting followed an anti-government protest in Mexico City on November 15, where concerns about increasing insecurity in the country were central.
Deputy Maribel Solache González from Mexico’s ruling party, Morena, expressed that opposition parties used the security rhetoric to attack the government in light of the Canadian travel advisory. She emphasized that the discourse aimed at the security situation, particularly in Michoacán, was a ploy to undermine the first female president in North America.
The president of Mexico, Sheinbaum, mentioned on Tuesday that her administration would seek clarification from the Canadian Embassy regarding the advisory. She highlighted that such advisories hold limited significance, citing an 11% rise in Canadian tourism to Mexico this year as evidence. It remains uncertain if the Mexican government formally requested clarification from Canada.
Opposition lawmakers contended that the Canadian travel advisory reflects the actual conditions in Mexico. Deputy Mario Zamora Gastélum from the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in Sinaloa criticized Morena administrations for failing to enhance security in the state. He underscored the urgent need for the Mexican government to address the situation in Sinaloa, referencing high levels of violence and fear among residents.
The Canadian travel advisory recommends against non-essential travel to parts of Sinaloa and emphasizes a high degree of caution for specific areas in Mazatlán. Deputy Paulina Rubio Fernández from the National Action Party (PAN) in Jalisco criticized the federal government for not prioritizing safety and security nationwide, reflecting on the escalating violence in various states.
Francisco Aguilar Ordóñez, head of the hoteliers and restaurateurs association in Acapulco, Guerrero, urged Canada to retract its travel advisory entirely, emphasizing the safety and hospitality extended to Canadian visitors in Mexico.
