Girl Guides of Canada Cancel US Trips

The latest organization to ban U.S. travel is Girl Guides of Canada. Citing its mandate of inclusiveness, the group dedicated to friendship, learning and community-building has decided to cancel all planned and future travel south of the border. 

“This decision is rooted in our commitment to inclusivity and the safety of all our members,” Girl Guides of Canada media team members told CTV News. “It was prompted by the recent restrictions put on equal entry into the United States, as some members may hold citizenship from non-Canadian countries and could be impacted by the restrictions.”

Related: US Announces New Visa Integrity Fee: Here's How Much it Will Cost

Lots of Canadians are avoiding travel to the United States right now, some by choice and others out of caution. Other travellers don’t have a choice, including the citizens of the 19 countries currently banned from visiting the country. The recently introduced “visa bond” will further restrict tourism from select countries by requiring visa applicants to pay a $15,000 USD deposit. The money is refundable once they leave the U.S., but it’s a lot of money to post and will be out of reach for some visitors.

Girl Guides of Canada join a variety of organizations that have opted out of travel to the States. Other groups who have publicly advised its members to avoid crossing the border include rights group Egale Canada, the Canadian Association of University Teachers and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Businesses, such as AimCo have requested non-essential travel to the U.S. be curtailed, while other organizations have issued directives to its members to carry electronic devices that have been wiped of sensitive materials. 

Related: Caution at the Border: Journalists, Academics, and Hockey Fans Weigh U.S. Trips

 

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