Charley Crockett’s Canadian Tour Canceled After Border Denials
Austin-based country artist Charley Crockett has canceled his entire Canadian tour after being denied entry into the country twice in as many days. The denials stem from a 2016 felony conviction in Virginia related to cannabis distribution.
Details of the Denials
Crockett shared a copy of the denial of entry letter, citing “Subsection 44(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act,” on his Instagram account as reported by the National Post. He was initially turned away at the border in Vancouver and again in Kelowna, British Columbia. He stated he was advised against attempting to re-enter Canada, fearing it could jeopardize his freedom.
The Underlying Conviction
The denial of entry is linked to a felony conviction from March 22, 2016, in Virginia for possession with intent to distribute over five pounds of marijuana according to the Austin American-Statesman. Crockett received a decade of probation as part of his sentence.
Impacted Tour Dates
The canceled tour included performances in several Canadian cities:
- Edmonton, Alberta
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Winnipeg, Manitoba (show already canceled as reported by CTV News)
- Windsor, Ontario
- Toronto, Ontario
- Ottawa, Ontario
- Montreal, Quebec
- Niagara Falls, Ontario
Crockett assured fans that full refunds would be issued for all canceled shows according to the National Post.
Canada’s Admissibility Rules
Despite Canada’s legalization of marijuana for recreational and medicinal use in 2018, a U.S. Citizen with any felony conviction on their record can be deemed criminally inadmissible the Austin American-Statesman explains.
The Burton Cummings Theatre in Winnipeg had a scheduled performance on February 26th, which has been canceled as noted on their website.