Police chiefs want data treaty

OTTAWA — Canada’s police chiefs are pressing the Trudeau government to sign a new electronic data-sharing agreement with the United States to overcome hurdles in the fight against crimes including fraud and cyberterrorism.

But the government and the federal privacy commissioner say more consultation and study are needed to ensure appropriate protection of personal information before taking such a step.

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police recently passed a resolution urging the federal government to negotiate an updated sharing agreement with the U.S.

They say cross-border access to information is one of the most pressing issues for law enforcement agencies.

The chiefs see an opportunity for a virtual leap forward following Washington’s passage of the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act.

The new law allows the United States to sign bilateral agreements with other countries to simplify the sharing of information on criminal justice matters.

The police chiefs group say current procedures present challenges, including delays in obtaining information from other countries.

The association is confident the CLOUD Act could open the door to an effective agreement between Washington and Ottawa that would respect Canadian constitutional guarantees and represent “a major step forward” in crime-fighting.