A member of Mexico’s ruling party alleges that local media coverage of a revised Canadian travel advisory for Mexico was weaponized to criticize Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Global Affairs Canada modified its travel warning for Mexico on November 13 by lowering the threat level for specific areas of Mazatlán on the Pacific Coast, within Sinaloa state. The majority of the advisory remained unchanged.
However, local news outlets inaccurately reported that Canada had issued a new travel alert for Mexico involving 14 out of the country’s 31 states, along with Mexico City. This misinformation spread rapidly starting on Monday and continued throughout the week.
Changes in Canadian travel advisories frequently lead to news coverage in targeted countries, often without seeking clarifications from Canadian authorities beforehand.
The coverage coincided with an anti-government protest in Mexico City on November 15, where concerns about rising insecurity were a central issue.
Maribel Solache González, a deputy from the National Regeneration Movement (Morena), the ruling party in Mexico, criticized opposition parties for utilizing security concerns to attack the government, leveraging the Canadian travel advisory rhetoric.
Solache González stated, “This rhetoric was intended to undermine the first female president in North America, and the media commentary further fueled this narrative.”
Morena currently holds majorities in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, as well as governing most state governorships. The party has won the last two presidential elections.
Regarding the advisory, Sheinbaum mentioned on Tuesday that her government would seek clarification from the Canadian Embassy in Mexico but emphasized that such advisories have limited significance, citing an 11% increase in Canadian tourism to Mexico this year.
The Mexican government’s request for clarification from Canada remains unknown.
Opposition lawmakers argued that the Canadian travel advisory reflects Mexico’s current reality, highlighting security challenges in the country.
Mario Zamora Gastélum, an opposition representative, criticized Morena’s governance for failing to address security issues in Sinaloa and called for urgent government intervention in the region.
He highlighted high levels of violence and fear among Culiacán residents, emphasizing the need for improved security measures.
The Canadian advisory advises against non-essential travel to certain areas in Sinaloa and recommends exercising caution in Mazatlán.
Paulina Rubio Fernández, from the National Action Party (PAN), representing a district in Jalisco, criticized the federal government for its insufficient efforts in ensuring national security.
She emphasized the growing violence in different states and the federal government’s failure to effectively manage and eliminate the security threats.
Francisco Aguilar Ordóñez, head of the hotel and restaurant association in Acapulco, Guerrero, urged Canada to rescind its travel advisory entirely, expressing hospitality and solidarity towards Canadian visitors and emphasizing the safety of the region.