Saturday, July 4, 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

Chandrayaan-2, India’s Second Moon Mission, To Be Launched On July 15

Chandrayaan-2, India’s Second Moon Mission, To Be Launched On July 15
India's second mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-2, would be launched on July 15, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan announced on Wednesday.

Chandrayaan-2, India’s Second Moon Mission, To Be Launched On July 15

One Man Critically Hurt, Another In Custody When Man Hit By Bus In Burnaby, B.C.

RCMP in Burnaby, B.C., are trying to unravel what led to a man being hit and critically injured by a transit bus.

One Man Critically Hurt, Another In Custody When Man Hit By Bus In Burnaby, B.C.

First Nations Push For Massive Conservation Area In Northern British Columbia

First Nations Push For Massive Conservation Area In Northern British Columbia
The proposal would cover the ancestral areas of three Kaska Dena First Nations and would be larger than Vancouver Island, taking up a massive section of north-central B.C.

First Nations Push For Massive Conservation Area In Northern British Columbia

3 South Asian Suspects Wanted After Teen Assaulted In The Middle Of Traffic In Surrey

Surrey RCMP is advising the public of an assault investigation and requesting their assistance to identify three suspects.

3 South Asian Suspects Wanted After Teen Assaulted In The Middle Of Traffic In Surrey

Ontario Court Upholds Ruling To Allow Sexual Activity Evidence In Boyle Case

Boyle, 35, has pleaded not guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice to offences against Caitlan Coleman, 33, including assault, sexual assault and unlawful confinement.

Ontario Court Upholds Ruling To Allow Sexual Activity Evidence In Boyle Case

Liberals Prepare To Spend $50M On Social-Finance Plan, But No Strategy For Now

The Liberals are taking their first $50-million step in a plan to finance experimental ways to deliver social services.

Liberals Prepare To Spend $50M On Social-Finance Plan, But No Strategy For Now