A member of Mexico’s ruling political party has criticized local media for using a revised Canadian travel advisory to target Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Global Affairs Canada recently updated its travel advisory for Mexico, specifically lowering the threat level for certain areas of Mazatlán on the Pacific Coast. Despite this adjustment, local media misinterpreted the update, falsely reporting that Canada had issued a new travel warning for 14 out of Mexico’s 31 states plus Mexico City. The wave of reporting began on Monday and continued throughout the week.
Such updates to Canadian travel advisories often lead to news stories in target countries, sometimes before seeking clarification from Canadian authorities. The timing of these stories coincided with an anti-government protest in Mexico City on November 15, where concerns about growing insecurity were a key issue.
Deputy Maribel Solache González, a member of Mexico’s governing party, suggested that opposition parties used the security concerns highlighted in the Canadian advisory to attack the government. She emphasized that the rhetoric surrounding security issues was being exploited to undermine President Sheinbaum’s leadership.
In response, President Sheinbaum stated that her government would seek clarification from the Canadian Embassy regarding the advisory. She downplayed the significance of such advisories, pointing out that despite them, tourism from Canada to Mexico has increased by 11% this year. The Mexican government’s position on seeking clarification from Canada remains unclear.
Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers argue that the Canadian travel advisory accurately reflects the security situation in Mexico. Deputy Mario Zamora Gastélum, representing an opposition party in Sinaloa, criticized the Morena administrations for failing to address security challenges in the state. He highlighted the ongoing violence and fear among residents, calling for urgent attention from the Mexican government.
The Canadian travel advisory recommends caution when traveling to certain areas in Sinaloa and suggests avoiding non-essential travel to most parts of the state. Other lawmakers, such as Deputy Paulina Rubio Fernández, also criticized the federal government’s security strategy, emphasizing the need for a more effective approach to address violence and insecurity in the country.
Despite calls for a complete retraction of the travel advisory from some sectors, others, like Francisco Aguilar Ordóñez from Acapulco, Guerrero, expressed support for Canadian visitors, urging them to visit Mexico and assuring them of their safety.