What steps can I take if I feel I've been violated by Canadian Border Patrol?

This weekend I went to Canada. 35 year old middle class white male. At the border, he kept asking questions about my white ford truck. I have a completely clean record… Not even speeding tickets. And I bought the truck new 5 years ago so I knew it hasn't ever been in trouble.

So the guy tells me to pull over into the detained section. Two Canadian officers come out and start going through everything. They get their hands on my laptop and the lady tells me to type in the password. I told her I never heard of this before and said that it doesn't seem legal. She assured me that it was so I typed it in. She looked at it for a second, closed it then brought it inside. I was told to go inside.

Then she brings me to the counter and tells me to state my password. I told her I wasn't comfortable with that as there were other people waiting in the room. She said she would detain the laptop if I didn't give it. So I had to spell it OUT LOUD.

So, for two hours they went through my laptop. Numerous times, I could see three of them looking at my photos… And as you can imagine, I had photos of myself I wouldn't exactly want the Canadian government perusing through. A few times, the three of them were laughing. The whole ordeal was humiliating and I feel livid.

After they tell me they just need to run background check on me. AFTER the laptop search. I feel like a laptop search should be the last step if something isn't right. I feel violated.

Do I have a case?

Sure, you go sue the Canadian government. Why should their customs people be the only ones who get a laugh out of you.

It's their country and their rules. I have had half my car disassembled at the border, and had to put it all back together myself.
On the other hand, I had an AK pointed at me by a guy in fatigues at the Hyderabad airport in India. It gave me perspective.

I should think the first step would be to speak to my Pakistani-Canadian friend who gets strip searched every time he enters Canada (with his Canadian passport). If you view what happened to you as a violation you've enjoyed a pretty charmed life.

Well first, never leave anything on your computer that you wouldn't want grandma to see, nor carry files with you that are personal. Common sense.

Second, passwords can be easily changed, and even so, if I were to steal your laptop I would be in it in about 5 minutes without knowing your password.

Third, it could be much worse.

Probably. It sounds like disgraceful behavior, unnecessary and inappropriate.