SKEENA REGION, BC – Newly released internal government documents reveal that Canadian officials spent over two months this year scrambling to figure out how to respond to a new U.S. executive order on gender identity, ultimately deciding against issuing specific public warnings for transgender Canadians travelling to the United States.
The documents, obtained through a freedom of information request, paint a picture of a government walking a “tightrope” between its duty to protect its citizens and its fear of offending the U.S. administration during a period of highly sensitive trade negotiations.
The Crisis: A New U.S. Gender Policy
The situation began on January 20, 2025, when the U.S. President issued an executive order stating that the U.S. would only recognize two sexes, male and female, on official documents. This immediately created confusion and anxiety for transgender Canadians, particularly those who hold passports with an “X” gender marker, which Canada began issuing several years ago.
Emails between officials at Global Affairs Canada show an urgent debate unfolding. “What is the plan to reassure Canadians & address their concerns regarding travel to the US?” asked one official in a January 27 email.
Officials worried about the “real or potential impact on trans Canadians’ ability to enter the US” and discussed new U.S. rules requiring some visa applicants to list the sex they were assigned at birth, even if it differed from their current passport.
The Decision: A Warning Written, but Never Published
The documents show that Canadian officials went as far as drafting and approving new wording for the U.S. travel advisory that specifically addressed the potential issues with the “X” gender marker.
However, that specific warning was never added to the public website. The reasons for this final decision were redacted (blacked out) in the documents released to the public, citing a section of the Access to Information Act that protects internal government “advice.”
When asked why the warning was never published, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada stated that the government is “monitoring the situation closely” and is not aware of any Canadian who has been denied entry to the U.S. because of an “X” gender marker on their passport.
The documents provide a rare glimpse into the difficult balancing act the Canadian government faces when its closest ally and largest trading partner implements policies that directly conflict with the rights and documents of Canadian citizens.
