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Thanks to right-wing anti-Cuba propaganda, politicians on the left run for cover when asked for an opinion on Castro. The latest shameful example was furnished by interim NDP Leader Tom Mulcair. Is it any wonder that Justin Trudeau ate the NDP's lunch during the 2015 federal election, and continues to do so?

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Two of the biggest companies doing retail business in Canada are at war with each other: Visa and Walmart. Most Canadians have not noticed, though, because the war is taking place only in select markets. However, if the current trend continues, it could be -- as the slogan goes -- coming soon to a store near you.

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We all lack courage and perseverance; we stumble. Whether or not we can spell out procrastination, we are gold medalists in doing so. We know, however, there is nothing more de-motivating and damaging to our self-esteem than not being able to depend on ourselves.

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For many Canadians, the outcome of the United States election has been a shock. Trump's campaign, as inarticulate and venal as it was, tapped into important and deeply rooted realities, realities that may contain lessons for Canada too. Does Canada need to worry about the same festering malaise that has become so dramatically evident in the U.S.?

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Fidel Castro was no saint. He was a cruel dictator who oppressed and terrorized the Cuban people for nearly 50 years. Anybody who remembers him fondly is ignoring his trail of human rights violations, while openly supporting a communist regime.

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As Justin Trudeau prepares to meet with the premiers in early December to finalize a pan-Canadian climate plan, a key contradiction remains in the Liberal's framework for a low-carbon economy. Namely, that the government's steadfast commitment to expanding fossil fuel exports is fundamentally antithetical to real action on climate change.

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We have a Prime Minister who calls himself a feminist -- a word previously taboo even among women's groups -- we have a gender-balanced federal cabinet where women hold some of the highest positions of power in the country, and the appointment of new Canadian Senators who are some of the leading feminist advocates in the country. So, are we there? Have we achieved equality for women in Canada? The answer, unsurprisingly, is not yet.

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Canadians are no strangers to outrageous winter adventures. They're used to playing ice hockey on frozen lakes, skiing down steeps in chest-deep powder, and soaring downhill on plastic saucers. These four insane winter experiences are just a handful of the bucket-list-worthy, snow-based thrills you can find on a trip to Canada this winter.

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Recently over coffee, a friend complained that none of her friends seemed to want to talk about their sex lives any more. Bear in mind, we are both hovering around 70. You might be thinking, "Of course your peers don't want to talk about their non-existent sex lives." And you would be wrong.

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While we focus on (and maybe obsess over) the nutrients, vitamins or calories in our food, food social enterprises like Newcomer Kitchen are using food's potential to open minds, build healthy communities, and open minds. "You are what you eat" takes on new meaning if we consider not only what is in our dinner, but how and with whom we are dining.

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This Giving Tuesday, for the fifth year in a row, Canadians have an opportunity to double their gift when they donate two hens and a rooster. Burnbrae Farms, a 5th generation family-owned company, will match your gift up to $10,000.

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I am a survivor of advanced melanoma: skin cancer which spread to my lymphatic system. I was able to receive eight powerful - and expensive - immunotherapy treatments which quite possibly saved my life. It never occurred to me that, should the disease come back, that I might not receive further treatment.

Winter is here -- and so is norovirus, the illness that can quickly spread among groups of people, shutting down schools and sending cruise ship passengers into quarantine. With the recent news of norovirus outbreaks in the GTA, it's important to understand how the virus spreads and how to protect yourself against contracting the illness. We spoke with our expert Dr. Andrew Simor, head, department of microbiology and infectious diseases consultant at Sunnybrook, to learn more.

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You sold your house, you survived the move and your boxes are all unpacked -- great job! That can be quite an undertaking, I know. But the work isn't quite done yet. Recently, the government announced important changes that will add an extra step to selling your home -- reporting it.

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No one wants quality, safe food to be wasted. A greater focus on food rescue efforts can increase the amount of all types of foods, and especially desirable perishable products, to ensure all families can put a wholesome meal on the table.

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We don't want to see months or years of lawsuits, protests and direct actions. We don't want that, but if it comes to that we will stand with First Nations and do whatever it takes (peacefully) to ensure this pipeline never gets built. We make that commitment because we care about the climate, because we care about indigenous rights, healthy communities and sustainable economies, and we will act when they are threatened. Kinder Morgan and Line 3 threaten them all. We urge the prime minister to do the right thing.

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The Liberals started backing away from the commitments made during the election campaign. Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef seem to be trying hard to find arguments that would absolve them from the promise to make "every vote count."

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When I explained why I will not buy Grand Theft Auto 5 for my son and why he is not allowed to buy it even with his own money, he replied, "but it's just a game." I can't get angry at him for wanting a game that nearly all his friends have. But I cannot, and will not, give in. There is no place for this content in a video game.

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There are issues requiring tough decisions that a few selfies will not provide him with enough cover nor will they help him to change the channel to better issues or allow for better optics. His recent foot in mouth moment over his comments on Fidel Castro is just this past weekend's storm cloud. We also have other storm clouds developing on the horizon.

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My kids want a back yard (and so does my dog), but I don't want to double or triple my mortgage for a piece of grass and a couple extra feet between me and my neighbours. Many have suggested we move farther afield, but I don't want to uproot the family, take my son out of his school and my daughter way from her friends -- that is the dilemma.

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Pedal desks are the next frontier for ADHD treatment, and with at least 1-3 students with ADHD in each classroom and a move towards bringing more movement into the classroom for all students, pedal desks in the classroom is an idea worth embracing.