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Conservative, Bloc leaders both test positive for COVID-19, Quebec premier in isolation

#875 of 1611 articles from the Special Report: Coronavirus in Canada
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet and Quebec Premier François Legault wore masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 this week. Legault, Blanchet Facebook Photos

Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet have both tested positive for the novel coronavirus, with five days to go before the Speech from the Throne signals the return of Parliament.

The news of O’Toole’s positive test result led Quebec Premier François Legault, who had met with O’Toole earlier in the week, to self-isolate and get tested himself. “No one is immune to contagion,” he said.

The Conservative Party confirmed late Sept. 18 that O’Toole had received a positive test for the virus. The Tory leader had said earlier this week that he, his family and some of his staff would get tested, after a staff member had tested positive.

O’Toole’s wife and children tested negative, the party’s statement also indicated, and O’Toole remains in isolation and is “feeling well.”

The media resource for URL http://twitter.com/francoislegault/status/1307139727066357762 could not be retrieved.

O’Toole’s test results followed a Bloc statement Friday morning that Blanchet had tested positive for COVID-19. It said he will remain in isolation at his residence and is “doing perfectly well.”

Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet have both tested positive for COVID-19. The news of O’Toole led Quebec Premier François Legault to self-isolate and get tested himself.

Bloc caucus members have also been self-isolating after Blanchet’s partner had tested positive.

The positive test results for the two leaders mean that they will likely miss the Speech from the Throne on Sept. 23. The Bloc said Blanchet would be in isolation until Sept. 26.

Meanwhile Ontario Public Health self-isolation requirements would have O’Toole isolating for at least 14 days following his test results, if he continues to show no symptoms.

The federal parties have been negotiating over what system to implement in Parliament to ensure that MPs can still carry out their duties while following public health protocols.

Both O'Toole and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have said they don't want the House of Commons chamber to fill up with 338 MPs when votes are called.

But they are split on what system to implement over the coming months. The Liberals have proposed temporary videoconference voting, to be replaced with electronic voting via a smartphone app once the program has been tested.

The Conservatives are skeptical of any remote voting system, and are particularly suspicious of app-based voting. They have suggested keeping MPs in Ottawa and having vote counting be staggered.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, Quebec Premier François Legault, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney meet in Ottawa on Sept. 18, 2020. Legault Facebook Photo

Ottawa in second wave, says medical officer

Legault changed his stance on self-isolating on Friday evening, after initially saying this week that his meeting, indoors with masks off, with the newly-elected Conservative leader O'Toole, was just a “low-risk exposure.”

On Friday, Legault met with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister in Ottawa. The four premiers held a press conference where they asked the federal government for an extra $28 billion to pay for health care.

Canada’s capital city of Ottawa is seeing a surge of coronavirus cases and is now in a second wave, according to medical officer of health Dr. Vera Etches. "We can't sustain a rapid rise in cases,” she said.

The media resource for URL http://twitter.com/ottawahealth/status/1306976832558895104 could not be retrieved.

Ottawa By-Law said the “warning phase” for issuing tickets for not wearing a mask in indoor settings “is ending.” Individuals could be fined $240 including the victim surcharge.

The city saw its social gathering limit downgraded by the Ontario government. The province of Ontario recorded over 400 new cases of COVID-19 on Sept. 18. Other hotspots targeted by the province are Toronto and the Peel region.

There have been an array of complaints from people in multiple cities across the province waiting in long lines to get tested for COVID-19.

Ford is set to make an announcement in Toronto Saturday morning with the province’s health minister and associate chief medical officer of health.

Bernier running in October by-election

Also this week, the president of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Tina Namiesniowski, announced she would be stepping down. The agency is co-ordinating the national COVID-19 response.

On Friday, Trudeau said two by-elections in the Toronto-area ridings of Toronto Centre and York Centre will be held on Oct. 26.

Facing questions about holding elections during a second wave, the prime minister said Thursday that “we all should have tremendous confidence in Elections Canada to be able to bring forward strong measures to keep us safe and allow for the expression of the democratic will of the people.”

The far-right People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier, who lost his seat in the 2019 federal election, is running in York Centre.

Carl Meyer / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada’s National Observer

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