Sunday, June 21, 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

Suspect Arrested After Pair Of Hit-And-Run Crashes In Surrey

Suspect Arrested After Pair Of Hit-And-Run Crashes In Surrey
ON Monday, November 18, at approximately 7:50 a.m., a Surrey RCMP officer engaged a vehicle for a traffic stop at 128A Street and 111th Avenue.

Suspect Arrested After Pair Of Hit-And-Run Crashes In Surrey

Surrey RCMP Is Requesting The Public's Assistance In Locating A 16-Yr-Old Female, Micyla 'Amber' Havenga

Surrey RCMP is appealing for information regarding a 16 year old female, Micyla "Amber" Havenga, who was last seen on November 12th, 2019.

Surrey RCMP Is Requesting The Public's Assistance In Locating A 16-Yr-Old Female, Micyla 'Amber' Havenga

Closing Arguments Begin In Legal Case Over Private Health Care In B.C.

Closing Arguments Begin In Legal Case Over Private Health Care In B.C.
Peter Gall began his closing arguments Monday in a decade-long constitutional challenge of the Medicare Protection Act of B.C. as lead plaintiff Dr. Brian Day, CEO of Cambie Surgical Corp., looked on from the gallery.

Closing Arguments Begin In Legal Case Over Private Health Care In B.C.

Two Hurt, Four Others Rescued, As Flames Damage Vancouver Apartment Building

VANCOUVER - Firefighters had to work quickly to rescue six residents of a burning apartment building in south Vancouver.

Two Hurt, Four Others Rescued, As Flames Damage Vancouver Apartment Building

Trans Mountain Received $320M In Government Subsidies In First Half 2019: Report

The money included $135.8 million in direct subsidies and $183.8 million in indirect subsidies that were not clearly disclosed to taxpayers, says the report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.    

Trans Mountain Received $320M In Government Subsidies In First Half 2019: Report

B.C. Introduces Gas Price Transparency Law Forcing Companies To Reveal Data

It's time to reveal to drivers in British Columbia how the price of gasoline is set, says provincial cabinet minister Bruce Ralston.

B.C. Introduces Gas Price Transparency Law Forcing Companies To Reveal Data