Canada, U.S. cite progress on perimeter deal, note much still to be done

OTTAWA – Legal snags have delayed — but not halted — plans by Canada and the United States to deepen co-operation on cross-border law enforcement.

In a one-year progress report on a binational perimeter security deal, the two countries say they’ve made significant progress but realize there’s still much work to do.

One outstanding project is the next generation of cross-border law enforcement that will see police and security officials work even more closely than they do now.

The progress report says officials are still evaluating the “operational and legal requirements” of such a law enforcement pilot project.

However, the report says strides have been made on goals including joint privacy principles, mutual recognition of air cargo security standards, cybersecurity, and expansion of the Nexus trusted traveller program.

The perimeter security deal — being phased in over several years — aims to smooth the passage of goods and people across the 49th parallel while bolstering defences along the continental border.