O'Toole blasts Trudeau Liberals after being turned away at COVID test centre

Conservative Party Leader Erin O'Toole criticized COVID-19 testing in Canada after he and his family went to get tested, only to wait hours and then be turned away.

This came after news that one of O'Toole's staffers— that O'Toole had traveled with— had tested positive for the virus. O'Toole is currently showing no symptoms, though a statement from the Conservative Party said that they would be tested out of "an abundance of caution."

After being turned away from a test site in Ottawa, O'Toole was able to get the test across the bridge in Gatineau, Quebec at a facility that gives priority tests to MPs and family members.

"While waiting in the COVID-19 testing line up, I was struck by how many families were waiting just like ours. Children are being sent home from school to get tested, and it is hard for moms and dads to keep them calm," O'Toole said in a statement.

"The test itself is unpleasant for an adult, but it's worse as a parent to watch your young child take the test. 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."