Industry Minister James Moore Announces New Measure to Enhance Cross-Border Public Safety

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 21, 2014) - Industry Minister James Moore today announced that the Government of Canada and the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have reached an agreement that will help emergency responders from Canada, including police officers, firefighters and paramedics, do critical work to enhance the safety of citizens living along the Canada-U.S. border. Public safety officials from Canada will be able to use their radios in border areas in the U.S. and vice versa.

This agreement is needed to reflect new technologies such as handheld devices, and it supports improved communication for emergency responders operating across the border.

This agreement also eliminates the need for each country to issue permits to public safety officials crossing the border as long as the radios they use are licensed in their country of origin.

Quick facts

• Canada and the U.S. will hold a Bi-National Cross-Border Interoperability Workshop on October 20 to 22, 2014.
• The agreement advances the goals laid out in Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness, a long-term partnership with the United States that was launched in 2011.

Quote

"I am pleased to announce this latest chapter in cross-border public safety coordination between Canada and the United States. This agreement takes a common-sense approach to modernizing cross-border public safety."
- Industry Minister James Moore

Related product

• Statement of Intent

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