Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Canadians in Mexico should get in touch with embassy amid violence, says ambassador to U.S.

Share

Canada's Ambassador to the United States is urging all Canadians in Mexico to reach out to the Canadian Embassy for assistance, amid unrest and violence in the country following the arrest of a son of notorious jailed drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

"I really do urge all Canadians to reach out to the embassy… and they will get the information that they need," said Canada's U.S. Ambassador Kirsten Hillman in an interview with Â鶹´«Ã½' Chief Political Correspondent Vassy Kapelos.

"We do have an embassy in Mexico and two consulates, and in a situation like this, what is very important is for Canadians to contact… those Canadian consular representatives in-country and get the information that they need regarding how to… comport themselves and what they should be doing."

This comes as the currently in Mexico to "limit your movements and shelter in place if possible," amid "widespread violence and security operations" within Sinaloa state, on the heels of the arrest of high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel member Ovidio Guzman Lopez on Thursday. 

"There are burning cars, exchanges of fire and threat to essential infrastructure, including airports," reads the updated travel warning.

Canadians in Mexico are also being urged to avoid areas where large gatherings are taking place, monitor local media for information, and to follow the instructions of local authorities.

According to the Registration of Canadians Abroad database, as of Friday afternoon 13,349 Canadians are presently in Mexico, but that is not a complete picture.

Those in need of emergency consular assistance are being asked to contact Global Affairs Canada's response

Karina Dahl-Olsen is currently travelling in Mazatlan, a Pacific resort town in Mexico's beleaguered Sinaloa state.

"We're being told that all tourists especially should stay indoors," Dahl-Olsen told Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel on Friday. "We're being advised not to go outside and be too visible, because they could be afraid that tourists would be targeted as in terms of kidnappings and killings."

Four months into a road trip, she now plans to stay put for a few days and see how things play out.

"So far we always felt real safe; yesterday was the first night we fell asleep to machine-gun fire," Dahl-Olsen said. "We didn't see any real action here, but we did hear the gunfire and the military helicopters in the air."

TRUDEAU STILL GOING TO SUMMIT, DESPITE UNREST

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is poised to be travelling to Mexico City next week to take part in a North American Leaders' Summit alongside United States President Joe Biden and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Asked about the status of the trip given the current situation, a source in Trudeau's office has told Â鶹´«Ã½ that they are watching the situation in Mexico very closely. The Sinaloa region, where the safety concerns are, is more than 1,200 kilometres from where the high-level international meeting is to take place.

On Friday, it was announced that Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and International Trade Minister Mary Ng will be accompanying Trudeau to the summit on Jan. 10, with the goal of discussing "shared priorities" with their respective Mexican and American counterparts.

Hillman said as of now, the "Three Amigos" summit is going ahead.

"The plan is for us to go," she said. "We will obviously take all the precautions required."

With a file from Senior Political Correspondent for Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel's Mike Le Couteur 

IN DEPTH

Opinion

opinion

opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster

A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?

opinion

opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.

Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

Local Spotlight

For the second year in a row, the ‘Gift-a-Family’ campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts – not for themselves, but for those in need.

A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.

Stay Connected