Department of Justice

CANADA SIGNS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENTS WITH TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

OTTAWA, September 4, 1997 -- Canada will sign agreements with Trinidad and Tobago today that will enable law enforcement and prosecution authorities to cooperate better in their efforts to combat international crime, announced Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Canada.

The first agreement, the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, calls for each country to provide the other with "the widest measure of mutual assistance in criminal matters." The goal of the treaty is to improve the effectiveness of both countries in the investigation, prosecution and suppression of crime through cooperation and mutual legal assistance.

The second treaty is called the Agreement Regarding the Sharing of Forfeited or Confiscated Assets and Equivalent Funds. The two countries have agreed to share seized funds when these funds are confiscated or forfeited as the result of a shared criminal investigation.

"This type of co-operation is necessary for us to get the upper hand in the global battle against transnational crime," McLellan said. "I want to thank Trinidad and Tobago for taking these bold steps with us."

The two treaties were negotiated in March by delegations from Canada and Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. This is Canada's 17th treaty for legal assistance with another country and it is the third time it has entered a treaty proposing the sharing of seized funds.

Ref.:   Pierre Gratton       Kim Prost
        Minister's Office    Senior Counsel
        (613) 992-4621       Department of Justice
                             (613) 957-4766