The Canada Border Services Agency has begun sharing information with U.S. Homeland Security about all Americans who cross into this country each day.

(Courtesy Canada Border Services Agency)

Soon, Washington’s expected to provide similar information with Ottawa about Canadians entering the U.S.

Under a 2011 security pact, the countries agreed to set up co-ordinated systems to track the entry and exit information of travellers.

The first two phases of the program were limited to foreign nationals and permanent residents, but not citizens of either country.

Canada’s introduced legislation last year to implement this next phase of data collection, but it has not yet been passed.

However, in the interim the countries agreed to expand the initiative.

Canada Border Services Agency says it’s consulted the federal privacy commissioner’s office all along, calling the interim provision of information on American citizens ”another step forward” to ensure a secure, efficient border.