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I know that being the president of the United States has been hard for you. Although you gave it your best shot, not everyone is happy with what you've done in the past eight years. But despite this, there are some people who still think that you're pretty neat. I'm one of them. And I'm not the only one who is really going to miss you.

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Despite all the warnings, despite all the evidence, Americans elected a snake charmer, a man who's made a career out of taking advantage of people and then discarding them like a used tissue, who's made a career out of protecting no one's interests but his own.

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In Hillary Clinton's final speech of this slow-motion car crash of a campaign, she declared that "love trumps hate." Turns out she was wrong. Instead, hate trumped love and so they picked Donald Trump, a vengeful demagogue running on a fear-fueled platform of racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and Islamophobia alongside a running-mate known primarily for his anti-LGBTQ radicalism. Donald Trump is the President Elect of the United States of America.

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Badawi has been languishing in a Saudi prison since his first arrest in 2012, and his subsequent sentencing in 2014 to 10 years imprisonment and 1000 lashes, itself constitutive of torture and a standing violation of international human rights law. Raif Badawi's "crime"? Establishing an online forum and exercising his right to freedom of expression.

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What's true is violent extremism is a greater threat than terrorism in Canada today. Furthermore, it is supremacist-motivated attacks that make up the majority of violent extremist incidents as the TSAS report articulates. Not surprisingly, supremacist-motivated attacks are hardly ever the focus of media stories.

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Clean air, water and soil to grow food are necessities of life. So are diverse plant and animal populations. But as the human population continues to increase, animal numbers are falling. Habitat degradation and destruction, hunting and overfishing, the illegal wildlife trade, invasive species, disease, pollution and climate change are causing an extinction crisis unlike any since dinosaurs disappeared 65 million years ago.

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Hillary Clinton has been called shrill and cold, where a man might be called firm and resolute. Her election journey was paved with sexism and impossibly high standards, and she had to prove her worth repeatedly despite Donald Trump's evident lack of competence and experience in politics. Never before has there been such a clear example of an underqualified man getting the job over a highly competent woman.

Andrew Kelly / Reuters

Donald Trump was elected to do what he says he'll do. You and I may think it's wrong, but the voters said he's right. Here's a difficult truth you don't want to hear: You and I are not smarter than them. We're not. They know what they want and they elected a president to do it. If you disagree with the agenda, too bad. You lost. Get over it. Try again in four years.

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Before we get too happy with ourselves, we should remember that we're a country that elected Harper for two terms and that few people in Toronto believed that Rob Ford would be elected. Once he was, it was easier to satirize him, to act bemused or distance ourselves with irony. It was much harder to watch the way his decisions and statements affected our lives.

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I am terrified that tens of millions of Americans came out in spades to support a man who is endorsed by the KKK, a known terrorist group. Trump is an admitted sexist, a liar, cheat and alleged rapist. A man(child) with zero political background -- completely and entirely unqualified for any position of stature. He is Hitler 2.0, and he now represents the most powerful country in the world. It is, in a word, devastating.

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I believe we need to shift in how women -- and society -- classify giving birth. We need to spend more time encouraging women to embrace their unique experiences. We need to concentrate on educating women on what the body actually does as well as different methods of birthing and various outcomes -- without judgment.

Baz Ratner / Reuters

Over 2 billion people, and a growing share of the world's poor, live in the 35 countries considered fragile or conflict states in 2016. And whether we are talking about pandemics, war, or prolonged occupation, these conditions devastate health systems and have lasting impacts on the physical and mental health of affected populations.

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With the shorter days, many of us are inclined to go into hibernation mode, snuggling on the couch under warm blankets and ordering takeout. By getting the whole family involved in meal planning you ensure that the task of feeding your family healthy meals doesn't fall all on one person's shoulder.

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With the U.S. election upon us, the number of celebrities, public figures and everyday people threatening to migrate north should Donald Trump land in the White House are multiplying. I guess we should feel flattered that our American neighbours consider us a suitable alternative. Like we're the best friend who takes you in after a terrible fight with your boyfriend. Yet, I can't help but feel like a jilted lover reduced to sloppy seconds. Or like first runner-up in a Miss USA pageant. Second choice doesn't really sit well.

Carlo Allegri / Reuters

By pushing further and further to the right, the Republican leadership laid the groundwork for a blustering, racist, sexist demagogue to win the nomination. And in doing so, they undermined the possibility of finding a reasonable, moderate candidate within their own ranks. When every Republican candidate has to swear fealty to a rightwing credo, is it really surprising that this year's field of presidential wannabes was so pathetically weak?

Stephanie Keith / Reuters

Hundreds of peaceful protesters have been arrested, assaulted and dehumanized. People, horses and journalists are being shot by rubber bullets and attacked by private security dogs for being completely peaceful. Protesters are reporting being arrested and held in dog cages and disturbingly, the police have not denied this.

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The Fraser Institute has argued recently that the federal government has failed to make a convincing case for Canada Pension Plan (CPP) expansion. But their viewpoint depends heavily on trying to determine how much income Canadians need to retire with dignity. So, do we really need an expanded CPP?

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The plaintiffs' constitutional challenge is straightforward: if the government does not provide timely medical treatment, then it cannot at the same time legally prohibit patients who are suffering on long wait lists from taking control of their own health care and arranging treatment privately.

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I didn't cry for myself or for how little hockey knowledge I currently have. I'd rather use these experiences as valuable life lessons. I won't make the same mistake twice. I won't make them with my younger son, because now I know better. And I won't hesitate to help other newbie hockey moms avoid my mistakes.

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A lack of environmental rights impacts some of us more than others. Time and time again low-income populations, First Nations communities, and other historically disadvantaged groups in our society are forced to bear more than their fair share of environmental harm while more affluent communities benefit.

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The costs of war are borne by all, from those on the front lines to the spouses, families and communities who serve on the home front. As such, it is critical that we focus not only on the short-term investment that a mission requires, but the life-cycle costs and resources requisite for any mission.