Sunday, February 8, 2026
ADVT 
National

O'Toole staffer tests positive for COVID-19

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Sep, 2020 05:59 PM
  • O'Toole staffer tests positive for COVID-19

Federal Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says he, his family and some party workers are in self-isolation after an aide tested positive for COVID-19.

A statement from the party says the O'Tooles are getting tested, informing the Opposition leader's recent contacts and keeping his son home.

"My family and I are feeling well, but we take COVID-19 very seriously," O'Toole said in the statement.

"Today was going to be Jack’s first day back at school, but instead we will be getting tested and self-isolating per public health guidelines. The health and safety of my family and all Canadians is my top priority."

O'Toole was to appear at a party event in Alberta Wednesday evening, part of a mini-tour of the Conservative heartland in the West.

And he was just in Quebec, where he met Premier Francois Legault on Monday.

The Conservatives say the staffer who has the respiratory illness was travelling with him.

The federal parties are still sorting out how the House of Commons will function when it resumes next Wednesday. The Liberals favour a hybrid model, with some MPs in the chamber and others participating via videoconference with a mechanism for voting online.

The Conservatives have been arguing for MPs to participate in person only, with limits on the number of members in the chamber at a time and staggered voting when it's needed.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet is also in self-isolation, awaiting the results of his own COVID-19 test after both his spouse and an aide tested positive for the illness.

Blanchet's aide's positive test, a few days after the Bloc caucus met in person in St-Hyacinthe, Que., prompted dozens of MPs and party workers to isolate themselves.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau tested positive for COVID-19 early in the pandemic but recovered.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. schools receive cash boost for mental health

B.C. schools receive cash boost for mental health
A total of $3.75 million will be spent in the 2020-21 school year to promote mental wellness and provide additional support for students, families and educators, Darcy told a news conference Wednesday.

B.C. schools receive cash boost for mental health

WATCH: TRUMP To WIN on Election Day Poll Finds | Creepy Former Principal Writing a Book on CreepCatchers?

WATCH: TRUMP To WIN on Election Day Poll Finds | Creepy Former Principal Writing a Book on CreepCatchers?
Poll finds President Donald Trump could win big on US election night - Bloomberg urges people to vote by mail early to defeat Trump. A former Mission elementary school principal caught by the Creep Catchers in 2016 defends himself by saying he was writing a book on them. India's GDP takes the worst hit in 24 years due to COVID-19.

WATCH: TRUMP To WIN on Election Day Poll Finds | Creepy Former Principal Writing a Book on CreepCatchers?

Higgs tries to focus attention on his COVID record

Higgs tries to focus attention on his COVID record
The campaign for the Sept. 14 election, now in its third week, has featured the usual assortment of promises and rhetoric, but it has become clear the Tories want to focus voters' attention on Higgs' response to the viral scourge.

Higgs tries to focus attention on his COVID record

Greens to announce new leader Oct. 3

Greens to announce new leader Oct. 3
Eight people made the final ballot this week, meeting a Tuesday deadline to submit the final entrance fees and 150 additional signatures from party members.

Greens to announce new leader Oct. 3

Population of at-risk species declining: WWF

Population of at-risk species declining: WWF
The WWF study used data representing thousands of wildlife populations from more than 800 species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles.

Population of at-risk species declining: WWF

Trudeau promises to keep up softwood fight

Trudeau promises to keep up softwood fight
"Canada is doing the right things and the United States is wrong," Trudeau said of the decision.

Trudeau promises to keep up softwood fight