Ontario intends to introduce legislation this afternoon that would, if passed, give police officers from other provinces and territories the powers needed to continue their investigations in the province.

Quebec is expected to introduce similar legislation this fall, following the signing earlier this month of an agreement between the two provinces on the issue.

Cross-border policing legislation, if passed, would help improve community safety by:

• Making it easier to investigate crime that occurs across jurisdictions in Canada.

• Enhancing coordinated investigations.

• Providing greater accountability and oversight for police officers from other provinces or territories operating in Ontario.

• Enabling officials designated by the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services to grant full police powers to out-of-province police officers whose superiors request that they be allowed to conduct police business in Ontario.

• Creating a streamlined and efficient system for enabling police to continue their investigations outside their home province.