Monday, February 9, 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

Cape Breton man wins lottery for second time

Cape Breton man wins lottery for second time
Raymond Lillington stared at his lottery ticket in disbelief following last Saturday's Lotto 649 draw, thinking he couldn't have won a jackpot worth several million dollars — again.

Cape Breton man wins lottery for second time

Quebec man gets life for killing unborn child

Quebec man gets life for killing unborn child
A Montreal man who pleaded guilty to stabbing his unborn baby to death will spend at least 15 years in prison before he's eligible for parole.

Quebec man gets life for killing unborn child

Canada increases matching fund for Beirut aid

Canada increases matching fund for Beirut aid
Ottawa is upping the amount of money it will put to matching donations from Canadians for humanitarian relief in Lebanon following a deadly explosion in Beirut.

Canada increases matching fund for Beirut aid

N.B. campaign shifts to economic development

N.B. campaign shifts to economic development
- Economic development was front and centre on New Brunswick's election campaign trail Wednesday, with the Liberals pushing for nuclear energy and the Progressive Conservatives promising more help for the province's businesses.

N.B. campaign shifts to economic development

Tories allege Liberals covering up WE scandal

Tories allege Liberals covering up WE scandal
Conservative MPs say they want all the facts to come out about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's handling of the WE Charity student grant contract before making a decision about when to trigger a federal election.

Tories allege Liberals covering up WE scandal

Amber Alert cancelled in Saskatchewan

Amber Alert cancelled in Saskatchewan
Police in Saskatchewan say a four-year-old girl who was the subject of an Amber Alert has been found safe.

Amber Alert cancelled in Saskatchewan