Wednesday, April 8, 2026
ADVT 
National

O'Toole says unvaccinated must be accommodated

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Jan, 2022 01:09 PM
  • O'Toole says unvaccinated must be accommodated

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says those unwilling to be vaccinated against COVID-19 should be accommodated through measures like rapid testing, as health experts warn the lightning-fast spread of the Omicron variant threatens to overwhelm hospitals.

Ontario is reporting an uptick in hospitalizations and days ago made the decision to keep school-aged kids learning from home for at least two weeks, which Doug Ford's government said was to take pressure off the health-care system.

Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliot says of the 319 patients in intensive care, 232 of them are not fully immunized against COVID-19 or have an unknown status, while 87 are double-vaccinated.

O'Toole came out as opposed to vaccine mandates during last year's election campaign and today accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of fuelling vaccine hesitancy by attacking those who haven't received their shot.

Trudeau on Wednesday said Canadians are angry at those who refuse to be vaccinated because they are filling up hospital beds, causing cancer treatments and elective surgeries to be put off.

The Conservative leader says he refuses to criticize people who aren't vaccinated and believes "reasonable accommodations" should be provided to those who work in the trucking industry in order to avoid service disruptions.

MORE National ARTICLES

Showers slow B.C. wildfires but threat remains

Showers slow B.C. wildfires but threat remains
The Regional District of Central Okanagan says it plans to contact individual property owners through the day to inform them about the state of their homes along the northwest side of Okanagan Lake.

Showers slow B.C. wildfires but threat remains

Meng defence expected to tackle reputational risk

Meng defence expected to tackle reputational risk
Meng was arrested at Vancouver's airport in 2018 at the request of the United States, where she is wanted on fraud charges that both she and Huawei deny.     

Meng defence expected to tackle reputational risk

Use of racial slurs and pepper spray in North Burnaby stabbing involving teenager: Burnaby RCMP

Use of racial slurs and pepper spray in North Burnaby stabbing involving teenager: Burnaby RCMP
It’s believed dozens of young people had been partying in an outdoor area when a confrontation occurred between several people, possibly involving pepper spray and the use of racial slurs, before the stabbing happened.

Use of racial slurs and pepper spray in North Burnaby stabbing involving teenager: Burnaby RCMP

Punjabi trucker held for smuggling 83 kg cocaine into Canada

Punjabi trucker held for smuggling 83 kg cocaine into Canada
Gurdeep Singh Mangat, 46, from the Punjabi-dominated city of Brampton in Toronto suburbs was arrested when he drove his commercial truck into Canada at the Blue Water Bridge entry point from the US.

Punjabi trucker held for smuggling 83 kg cocaine into Canada

Insurance claims skyrocket as disasters intensify

Insurance claims skyrocket as disasters intensify
The average annual cost of claims for property damage or losses due to severe weather has more than quadrupled over the last decade to about $2 billion, said Craig Stewart, the bureau's vice-president of federal affairs.

Insurance claims skyrocket as disasters intensify

Vancouver Police seeks witnesses after man’s throat slashed by stranger

Vancouver Police seeks witnesses after man’s throat slashed by stranger
The victim, a 46-year-old man from Vancouver, was near Quebec Street and East 10th Avenue around 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon when someone approached from behind and cut his throat, then walked away.

Vancouver Police seeks witnesses after man’s throat slashed by stranger