Thursday, January 1, 2026
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

Canada pledges $27M to Venezuelan refugee crisis amid COVID-19 fight

Canada pledges $27M to Venezuelan refugee crisis amid COVID-19 fight
Canada is increasing its support to South American countries coping with the Venezuelan refugee crisis by $27 million.

Canada pledges $27M to Venezuelan refugee crisis amid COVID-19 fight

Half of Canadians say governments are hiding something about COVID-19: poll

Half of Canadians say governments are hiding something about COVID-19: poll
Half of Canadians believe they're not getting the whole truth from their governments about COVID-19, a new poll suggests, and some also believe conspiracy theories about where the novel coronavirus began.

Half of Canadians say governments are hiding something about COVID-19: poll

Canada takes global role in countering electoral interference in cyberspace

Canada takes global role in countering electoral interference in cyberspace
Canada is taking on a leadership role against electoral interference as part of an international cybersecurity effort.

Canada takes global role in countering electoral interference in cyberspace

Alberta government stands by energy minister's pipeline and COVID comments

Alberta government stands by energy minister's pipeline and COVID comments
The Alberta government isn't backing away from a cabinet minister's comments that public heath rules and economic fears caused by COVID-19 favour pipeline construction.

Alberta government stands by energy minister's pipeline and COVID comments

Justin Trudeau says he'll take COVID-19 antibody test once available

Justin Trudeau says he'll take COVID-19 antibody test once available
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that once there's a test widely available to see who has had COVID-19, he'll take it. Trudeau was exposed to the novel coronavirus earlier this year via his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, who likely contracted it during a trip to England. The prime minister never showed any symptoms.

Justin Trudeau says he'll take COVID-19 antibody test once available

Two seriously hurt in early morning stabbings along a busy Vancouver street

Two seriously hurt in early morning stabbings along a busy Vancouver street
Two people were hurt in a violent stabbing attack on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside early Tuesday, police said. An emailed statement from Const. Tania Visintin said police responded to an assault in the area of Hastings Street and Gore Avenue at around 6 a.m.

Two seriously hurt in early morning stabbings along a busy Vancouver street