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Many Canadians have good excuses for not donating blood. Blood Services might have denied them, for a number of different reasons. I hear some bad excuses, too. But the dumbest excuse I hear is that they're scared of needles.

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There's a new cadre of indigenous chefs who are part historian, part cultural ambassador. Piecing together recipes long passed down orally, Chef David Wolfman helps people find a sense of history and identity through food. For many experiencing the residual effects of residential schools, food provides a link to a culture they didn't even know they were missing.

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How long does it take the Ontario Government from the time they decide a program is needed until they actually finalize implementation? It sounds like a joke but it isn't and it is one issue raised in the 2016 Ontario Auditor General's report. The answer is close to three decades provided there are no further missteps and/or delays.

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That this presidency could have serious impacts on reproductive rights in the U.S. is clear. But another serious concern is the global impact the election will have; the U.S. is the biggest donor for reproductive health in developing countries. This could mean the closure of organizations and clinics that provide life-saving services.

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Lately, we've heard a lot about Americans who've been left behind. I got the first hint of what this might be last fall when, as part of a project on democratic capitalism, we set out to understand more about the American experience. We spoke at length to two dozen working, middle-class Americans about their lives.

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I am profoundly disappointed with the federal government's approval of Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain Expansion Project. As an intervenor in the National Energy Board (NEB) hearings, I witnessed first hand that the process was fundamentally flawed.

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True self-expression must have freedom without gendered boundaries. To allow men true freedom, freedom of their senses, we must loosen the knots of gender expression through clothing and fabric and allow men to be who they naturally are.

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Imagine how you would feel if the government installed cameras in your home that recorded everything you did, then gave police the power to review the footage without a warrant, whenever they want. If that sounds to you like a gross violation of your privacy, you should probably be aware that the federal Liberals are contemplating pretty much exactly that for the digital world.

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International Human Rights Day should be a chance to celebrate the advances we've made to make the world a safer place for those suffering the threats of hate, racism and division. But we seem to be taking steps backwards. The president-elect of the United States got to that office by unleashing and lending legitimacy to the hatred and xenophobia that we normally look to our political leaders to push back against.

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Some of my most painful memories are of my friends and cousins crying as they were taken away to be married to men they didn't know, often much older. I grew up seeing young girls sheltered by my mother in our house from being forced into early marriage. Those were the fortunate few. There are many complex causes driving this violence against women and girls. But it is ultimately rooted in the reality that women and men are not treated equally.

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I love sampling different fun fitness classes -- both at home (in Toronto) and when traveling. Trying something new helps me stay motivated, plus booking my workouts before I fly ensures that I always work out. I would never forfeit my money by not showing up.

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British Columbians have made extraordinary adjustments in their outlook in the last several decades. When I was a boy and a young man there was always another valley to log, another run of fish, more farmland around the corner, more rivers to dam or even reverse. This was considered our birthright. But though it took us a long time to realize it, we saw that we no longer had those luxuries.

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As a privacy and security expert, I concluded that the MyDemocracy survey is not just ineffective in its stated political objectives, it's literally giving up the privacy of Canadians in real time. This is really dangerous, not only from the various privacy trackers, but scary when you realize that this issue applies to all of Public Safety's websites I have tested. This information is effectively politically profiling any Canadian who participates in this survey.

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You don't need to fix your problems because Christmas is coming. You need to fix them because they're chipping away at your happiness and well-being, and they're probably chipping away at the happiness and well-being of your kids, too.

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Poor countries, including those in Africa, bear by far the most impact from climate change. Droughts and floods have devastating consequences on agriculture and staple food prices. According to a World Bank study, by 2030, climate change will likely have pushed an additional 100 million people below the poverty line.

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Does anyone really believe he (Trump) gives a damn? That he's in it for anything other than his ego, the good of his brand, his businesses, investments and, lest we forget, his wallet? Does anyone really think he'll last the full four years? That he won't break precedent for the umpteenth time, get bored or fed up or both, and become the first president ever to willingly resign before his first term is up? Or do something so egregious, or illegal, he'll get impeached?

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The holidays are fast approaching and before we know it the New Year will be here. While we scramble about looking for gifts for our loved ones, some can be harder to buy than others. One particular group that can be exceptionally picky is the drinking crowd. You can't just run to the store and grab the first bottle you see; like I said, this crowd is picky. So to help you out, here are a few suggestions to keep you on track for the drink lover this holiday season.

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Moving forward, it's clear we need to take a more strategic approach to maintaining and improving our urban forests at both the provincial and federal level in order to combat climate change and air pollution, urbanization and densification, invasive insects and disease, and the cost of green infrastructure maintenance.

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At every turn women's credibility is in question. The terrible truth is that there is often no justice for women who speak out about sexual assault and sexual harassment, and as such it can take every ounce of will for women to honour their own experiences and not be silenced. The Boyden letter takes that juggernaut of misogyny and with the weight of authority crushes it down on those students who lodged complaints against Steven Galloway.

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December is here and no matter where you live in Canada, the days have gotten shorter and cooler, and you may have already experienced snowfall. While you can't always predict the weather, it's pretty much guaranteed that you'll have to face at least a few storms during the winter season. And whether you're a veteran in driving under extreme weather conditions or you're still getting used to the feel of a snow-covered road, it's important to prep yourself -- and your car -- for what's ahead.

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A major element towards success is accountability -- making sure governments and the private sector play their part. Asia Pulp &Paper; is advocating "putting a price on nature." This will encourage private sector involvement. Businesses need to be economically invested in the survival and protection of our landscapes.