For those women who care about advancing women's equality, the answer is simple: the women's equality vote is the non-Conservative, anti-Harper vote. We need a government that will champion women's equality by recognizing it as something that needs championing, not as something that already exists. There are young women who refuse to buy the "women are equal" Conservative tag line. We know what our foremothers fought for, we know what we've lost in our lifetime under Harper's leadership, and it's time to reclaim the losses.
We've figured out a simple truth: we're in this together. Our neighbour's strength is our strength; the success of any one of us is the success of every one of us. But this is incredibly fragile. It must be protected always from the voices of intolerance, divisiveness, small-mindedness, and hatred. It's the right thing to do.
If Canadians don't see a commitment for major change from Monday's winner, the nastiest and most divisive election in our history, by far, will be for naught.
The glaring gaps in drug coverage for Canadian children are made stranger by the economic dimensions of the issue. Children's health care represents a drop in the ocean of health care budgets -- extending universal drug coverage to children would constitute a small fraction of total pharmaceutical spending.
On Sept. 17 a group of prominent Arab and Muslim organizations from across Canada got together and sent a letter* to the leaders of the five main federal parties: Conservatives, NDP, Liberals, Bloc Quebecois and Green Party.
In a world that is serious about addressing the climate crisis there is no place for high carbon assets like the tar sands. Markets need to move to low carbon futures and the more Alberta tries to flood the market with tar sands crude the more it is thwarting efforts towards progress.
Four years ago, I held up a sign in Parliament that said "Stop Harper." On that day, I felt hopeless, scared and alone. Today, I feel a sense of hope. Let's start with the 71 per cent spike in advance voter turnout. Add to that the 70,000 students who voted at campus polling stations and friendship centres.
Nothing in recent history had redefined what it means to be Canadian more than Bill C-24. This bill, made into law, allows the government to take away the citizenship of undesirables. Although currently limited to acts of terrorism, the government has expressed an interest in using this law against other acts.
During the federal candidates forum in my riding I noticed that both the NDP and Conservative candidates didn't mention their leader's name. It wasn't surprising. It's been hard differentiating between the campaigns of Thomas Mulcair and Stephen Harper.
On October 19 Canadians will head to the polls again to exercise their right to vote for our next prime minister. Many Canadians have already started to cast their ballots, but election day typically sees the biggest turnout. On this very busy day, here are my tips for how to be on your best ballot box behaviour.
As the federal election approaches, I've been stunned by how little party leaders have discussed one critical issue -- healthcare. While the common assumption is that our healthcare is free in Canada, this is a huge misconception.
In front of a water cooler somewhere in Canada -- you can hear "him" going on and on. He unreservedly comments on our upcoming elections, the European migrants crisis, the American presidential candidates and even on the municipal composting process. He openly shares his political points of view on everything. And occasionally, he gives you a little nudge so you can comment, too.
Alberta is changing. What was once a stronghold now feels like the way we hold someone's hand when we're about to break up with them. In the ten years I've lived in Calgary, this city and this province has undoubtedly changed. So much so that sometimes it feels like I've moved to a whole other world.
The time has come for McGill University to do the right thing. Indifference is no longer an option on climate change. As one of Canada's greatest scientific and educational institutions, McGill University has the opportunity to show leadership, integrity and vision.
One out of every 30 Canadian women who died last year lost her life to breast cancer. Just let that sink in. That is thousands upon thousands of lives. And the number of Canadian women who were diagnosed with breast cancer? One in nine! That's a shocking number. That's an epidemic.
I want the party and Prime Minister I vote for to show responsibility with how they spend our money; how they treat all classes of citizens and our environment; with how they paint a picture of the future they want to get to, and how I'm part of it.
After getting a driver's licence, I think most teens will tell you that the next milestone will be when they legally order a beer. Sadly they're missing what really is the most significant milestone. The federal government recognizes age 18 as the age at which one can vote in a federal election. Unfortunately, it seems that reaching vote eligibility is not nearly as meaningful as being allowed to order what's on tap.
Layers and cardigans, are a few of my favourites this fall! There are so many options for every shape and colour preference this season. And to provide the top tips to feel and look amazing this fall, I spoke with Amanda Kraemer, style director at LOFT.
If someone does not see much difference between NDP, Liberal, Bloc and Green policies they have not yet done their civic duty. Note the billions of public dollars that will be spent in dramatically different ways, the manner in which those promises will be funded and the starkly dissimilar approaches to democratic reform, climate change, civil liberties and foreign policy that these supposedly interchangeable parties advocate.
The loud styling makes the film instantly iconic, especially in casting style icon Waris Ahluwahlia as Manny, the trigger-happy joker of the gang and the one daring enough to pull off neon pink and bright turquoise suits. Mehta wanted to do more than present their brash styling; she wanted to shatter stereotypes of Sikh characters who often play cabbies or doctors on screen.
On Oct. 18, I will be running the Toronto Waterfront Marathon three times on the same day (126.6 km) in support of the #ItsNeverOkay campaign, a governmental and media campaign that reminds us that we all have a role in speaking up when we see situations of sexual violence or harassment.
Taxes have been a key issue in this federal election. Canadians for Tax Fairness has reviewed all of them and offers this analysis: Conservatives tax cuts make taxes even more unfair. Liberals would raise taxes of the top 5% but cut them for the next richest 15 per cent. NDP would raise revenue by hiking corporate taxes.
The best advice I ever got was "You only run your first race once." It's more important to enjoy yourself and feel good when you cross the finish line than it is to have an impressive time on your first marathon. You have a whole lifetime to improve your pace (if you want to), but your first race is all about the excitement!