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Ottawa has become increasingly opaque, inaccessible and unaccountable. The systematic destruction of Canadian values by the Conservative government has made this country unrecognizable. I believe we can bring back the Canada we used to know -- your votes will determine whether or not the sacrifices made by this generation and every generation before it were wasted on Stephen Harper and the Conservative agenda.

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The federal government will not help Ontario in any way in implementing the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP). "Take a hike," was the federal government's basic message. Just figure it out. There is no retirement crisis, says the Harper government. Never mind that some of the most credible researchers in the country have called for a significant enhancement to the Canada Pension Plan.

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There is nothing I enjoy more than sleeping in on a Sunday and having yummy waffles. I could eat stacks of waffles and the more syrup, the better! Fortunately, there are now so many healthy options for waffles and you can create a healthful Sunday morning feast that will leave you feeling energized for the day ahead.

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Last weekend world leaders met in New York to adopt Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The agenda includes a new set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Most people might think that this "plan of action for people, planet and prosperity" is the major outcome of the past few years -- But I would argue that the process is also a major outcome in and of itself.

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As we prepare to go to the polls for the federal election this October, it is relevant to note that each party has a different approach for combating homelessness and providing relief for chronic poverty. While we cannot tell you who to vote for, we can ask that you include housing policy as one of the areas you compare when researching the various party platforms.

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Since 1993 there were five elections, none of which were determined by Quebec's participation. None. The Quebecois vote has been meaningless federally for a long time. In 2011 Harper had only five members elected in Quebec, having had 10 in each of the previous two elections, and he still obtained a strong majority.

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Abortion stigma is fueled by myths. Myths that place safe, legal and accessible care and services out of reach for people worldwide and deny those who are weighing their options the evidence-based and judgment free information they need to make the choice that is right for them.

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Mulcair's sudden love for balanced budgets not only affirms the faulty framework that inexplicably lauds Stephen Harper as a responsible steward of the economy, it cedes precious ground to Trudeau at the moment Canadians want an alternative to neoliberal pabulum.

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It would appear that Naomi Klein and her co-authors are oblivious to what's actually going on in rural Ontario. We are the backyard where all the wind turbines and solar farms are supposed to be built, providing "clean" renewable energy to clueless city dwellers. But guess what? We don't want these installations in our back yard either!

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Women of colour who have spoken most openly and fervently on behalf of their male family and community members are often at the forefront of the debate surrounding police misconduct. Yet, women have also been victimized by the police and often in precisely the same ways as men -- police stops, shootings and racial profiling.

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To keep our children safe and healthy, we teach them never to run with scissors. We put bike helmets on them. We ensure they floss. We make them eat broccoli and try to limit the sweets. Isn't it equally important that they are well-informed about sexual health?

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I thought I found the woman that I'd spend the rest of my life. I know the relationship was close because the heartbreak was very real. Ask anyone who knows me personally. They'll tell you how little fun I was for a while after our breakup. But I was something before The Bachelor Canada and the show's aftermath.

If you don't know about the water crisis, you should. 2.5 billion people are affected. They lack clean water and a toilet. Each day kids miss school, Moms walk miles and families get sick from unsafe water. And too many die.

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In Canada, arts and culture are at a crossroads. They can either move forward or backward, depending on the choices we make. For them to move forward, it will be more than ever necessary for the federal government to play a leading role. The Liberals, under Justin Trudeau's leadership, are determined to make Canada, more than ever, a place where cultural expression is created and enjoyed whatever its roots, foreign or domestic.

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A mass shooting fueled by misogyny is no doubt a national tragedy. So why does it seem like those who want to lead this country are just not that interested in it? To date, there have been no official statements from the leaders. A woman is killed by her partner every six days in this country, according to the Canadian Women's Foundation.

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A year ago -- Sept. 26 to be exact -- Prime Minister Harper announced the conclusion of negotiations of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The flights alone cost $300,000.

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We think, perhaps, we could have done something differently -- made a move or said the right words that might have tipped the balance in favour of life. Death is not easy on a regular basis, but it becomes tainted and shame-faced when described as a suicide. It's as if we, the survivors, have somehow failed to do our part.

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If you are one of those start-ups be prepared for a rigorous process. If you are competing for funding from an angel investor group or in a business competition you are going to have to go through a lot of hoops. Don't despair, this will actually help you prepare for running the business itself.

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Despite the undeniable facts (half of the world's Catholics are female; most Sunday pews are occupied by women; the vast majority of North American Catholics support the idea of women's ordination) Pope Francis' 2013 assertion that the "door is closed" to women in the priesthood has remained unchanged.

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Pipelines are a hot-button topic this fall. But whether we're looking at the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion or Enbridge's Northern Gateway project, a meaningful public debate on how these pipelines will contribute to climate change has not yet occurred.

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Embracing the aging process is important even though at times it may be challenging. There are many measures we can take to age more gracefully and maintain an active and healthy lifestyle but the key factor is fitness.