Tuesday, July 7, 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

Scheer Promises Mandatory Sentence Of Five Years For Child Abuse

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer pledged Thursday to get tough on crime with mandatory minimum sentences of five years for anyone convicted of abusing children.    

Scheer Promises Mandatory Sentence Of Five Years For Child Abuse

Supreme Court Of Canada To Weigh Video-Lottery Terminals Class-Action Case

OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada will look at whether a potentially groundbreaking court case that takes aim at video-lottery terminals can proceed and, if so, on what grounds.    

Supreme Court Of Canada To Weigh Video-Lottery Terminals Class-Action Case

Clean Energy One Of Canada's Fastest-Growing Industries

Clean Energy One Of Canada's Fastest-Growing Industries
OTTAWA — Canada's clean-energy sector is growing faster than the economy as a whole and is rivalling some of the more well known industries for jobs, a new report shows.

Clean Energy One Of Canada's Fastest-Growing Industries

Smoke From Alberta Wildfire Drifts Northwest, Covering Much Of Yukon

Smoke From Alberta Wildfire Drifts Northwest, Covering Much Of Yukon
WHITEHORSE — Residents in many parts of Yukon are feeling the effects of smoke from a wildfire burning about 1,000 kilometres away in Alberta.

Smoke From Alberta Wildfire Drifts Northwest, Covering Much Of Yukon

Man In B.C. Charged With Murder And Arson In 2016 New Brunswick Death

On October 22, 2016, firefighters discovered the body of 71-year-old Lucille Maltais inside a home in Val-d'Amour.

Man In B.C. Charged With Murder And Arson In 2016 New Brunswick Death

Surrey's Mobile Enforcement Unit Nears 500 Arrests In First Year

As the Surrey RCMP’s Mobile Street Enforcement Team (MSET) marks their one-year anniversary, they are closing in on 500 arrests that have greatly contributed to the declining property crime rate in Surrey.

Surrey's Mobile Enforcement Unit Nears 500 Arrests In First Year