First they are more concerned on terrorism and researched criminal than anything else. Second, remember that in Canada prostitution is not illegal per se. Dealing with or requesting minors is criminal. Forcing someone is a rape and is criminal (even your wife). Offering money for sex exchange is criminal. So avoid (delete) having textos where you offer or inquire about money. Fixing a rendez-vous to meet someone (adult) is not against any law in Canada. There was a report on TV last week showing police officer visiting girls in Motel, telling them that they are not against them and that they should not hesitate to call police if they feel they are threatened by clients or pimps. If the police want to charge you, they should proove that you actually innitiated the deal by offering money. Visiting someone, having a good time, with or without sex, and leaving a gift (money in an enveloppe is the best way, no discussion about it) is ok. Be advise that sometimes police does entrapment with female police officer walking down the street... If you stop, engage conversation and try to conclude a deal (money) then you are in deep shit. Very soon (within seconds) a patrol car will appear and you will be arrested. Also I'm not 100% sure about this one but I read that they are only allowed to search what is actually on your phone so having a list of phone numbers stored on google drive or others cloud services is ok unless they have a subpoena and if so, you are allready in trouble and are allready indicted.
While I generally agree with your points, at the border, it's a different story; you are not dealing with the police. Unlike the police, CBSA does not have to build a case that survives a trial because it ain't going to trial.
If you are not Canadian and carrying a big bundle of cash and cell phone full of messages arranging a date with an escort, CBSA doesn't have to distinguish/prove your intent on whether you are meeting the escort for 3 hours at a museum or banging her in your hotel room.
They just need to see evidence of misrepresentation as in traveler told CBSA they are visiting Montreal to see a hockey game/festival etc but couldn't provide further details/ticket on hockey game/festival and instead was found carrying a big bundle of cash and SMS messages with escort agencies arranging dates coinciding with the traveler's duration of stay. To top of off, traveler declared staying 4 days to see hockey game but Habs are away for next two weeks. Lol.
You can go plead your case that your white lie is immaterial in affecting your admissibility into Canada but doing so may require waiting in a holding cell until your admissibility hearing or you can withdraw your application for entry into Canada (get sent on next flight home or turn around at a land border).
While you may eventually win in an admissibility hearing, would you rather risk putting yourself into such a situation or avoid it completely by wiping your phone to begin with (and having a good cover story)?
Not everyone at CBSA is out to get you but don't make it so obvious that they simply can't look the other way. Before I acquired NEXUS, I was in Toronto for business covered by NAFTA. The CBSA agent conducting secondary inspection reviewed my contract with my Canadian customer and asked me my reason for coming to Canada. I replied work (my first time in secondary). He then replied, if you are coming in under NAFTA, you should be in Canada "
to install computer software." He then asked me again, what my reason for coming to Canada was to which I replied "to install computer software as per my sales contract." :bounce: