Saturday, December 27, 2025
ADVT 
National

Leave regulators to approve COVID tests: Freeland

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 24 Sep, 2020 08:27 PM
  • Leave regulators to approve COVID tests: Freeland

Health Canada says it can't provide any information about the status of any of the rapid-testing devices for COVID-19 it is reviewing.

Pressure is mounting on the federal government to approve tests that can provide faster results as hospitals and public health agencies across Canada struggle to keep up with the demand for COVID-19 testing.

Deputy Conservative leader Candice Bergen says the government promised in March that getting rapid tests was a priority and yet half a year later, there are still none in use in Canada.

At least 14 such devices are under review by Health Canada but the department's spokesman says he cannot comment on the status of the applications during the scientific assessment process.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says it would be wrong for politicians to put pressure on Health Canada to approve any of the devices.

Several other countries have had some of the faster tests in use for months now, including Japan and the United States, but Health Minister Patty Hajdu said last week Canada is not yet convinced the technology is good enough.

MORE National ARTICLES

Bail delayed for accused in Rideau Hall crash

Bail delayed for accused in Rideau Hall crash
A bail hearing for the man accused of threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been delayed until the end of July while his lawyer waits to see the evidence against him.

Bail delayed for accused in Rideau Hall crash

Search intensifies for missing Quebec father

Search intensifies for missing Quebec father
Quebec provincial police deployed in large numbers southwest of Quebec City Friday, the ninth day of the manhunt for the father of two young girls found dead last weekend.

Search intensifies for missing Quebec father

Inmate dies in prison after 51 years behind bars

Inmate dies in prison after 51 years behind bars
A man in his 70s has died behind bars, almost 51-years after receiving a life sentence for a double murder in Ontario, two sexual assaults and several other offences.

Inmate dies in prison after 51 years behind bars

New projects must be 'net zero' by 2050

New projects must be 'net zero' by 2050
Proposals for new mines, power plants, pipelines or railways in Canada will have to include plans to hit "net zero" emissions by 2050 if they have any hope of getting approved.

New projects must be 'net zero' by 2050

Tories seek Trudeau family's speaking records

Tories seek Trudeau family's speaking records
A second House of Commons committee is debating whether to probe the aborted deal between the federal government and WE Charity to run a massive student-volunteering program.

Tories seek Trudeau family's speaking records

Delay unreasonable in murder case: top court

Delay unreasonable in murder case: top court
The Supreme Court of Canada has upheld a judge's decision to halt a murder case because of excessive delay, even though the accused man was long ago deported from Canada.

Delay unreasonable in murder case: top court