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O’Toole calls for better COVID-19 testing

Canada’s Conservative Party leader is calling for more testing options after having to wait in line for hours with his family to be tested for COVID-19.

Durham MP Erin O’Toole took his family to an assessment centre in the Ottawa Public Health Unit last week to be tested after a member of the Conservative leader’s staff tested positive for the virus.

While waiting in line, O’Toole says he was struck by how many families were waiting in line with him.

“Children are being sent home from school and get tested, and it is hard for moms and dads to keep them calm. The test itself is unpleasant for an adult, but it’s worse as a parent to watch your young child take the test,” he says. “The Trudeau Liberals have created this mess by refusing to approve other testing methods – despite all our allies having, for months, multiple tests including much faster and less invasive methods. I stand with the thousands of Canadian families who are waiting in lines today for tests. It has been seven months, Justin Trudeau must answer for why we do not have access to more of the tests our allies are using.”

After waiting for hours in line, the O’Toole family was turned away because the centre had reached capacity. Over the course of the afternoon, the O’Toole family contacted Ottawa Public Health to determine which area facility still had availability and an appointment for testing on Friday was offered.

The House of Commons makes testing available for MPs and their families in Gatineau and were able to accommodate the O’Toole family for testing.

O’Toole has since received a positive test result, however his wife and children have tested negative.

A statement from O’Toole’s office says he is feeling well and is continuing to self-isolate.

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