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While we hesitate, the terminally ill are denied a peaceful end There are so few experiences that are universally shared, and now, unburdened by shame, we quite happily talk about them all. Childbirth? Bring on the videographer! Sex? Please read my erotic poetry. But death? Death rips our...

North and South Korea exchange fire across western sea border North Korea announced early on Monday that it would hold live-fire drills in seven parts of the border area. South Korea says it returned fire after North Korean shells landed in its territorial waters. The area has been a...

What Canada's Slow Growth Tells Us Canada's Conservative government has long made sound economic management the centerpiece of its claim to office. Now, with the country's outlook showing mixed signals and a federal election coming next year, I'm looking at ways to measure the health of the...

Enbridge gets hefty “interim” rate increase Enbridge Gas has been granted a 40 per cent increase in the rates it charges customers for natural gas starting April 1 – but only on an interim basis. The new rates will boost the gas bill of a typical household to $1,400 a year, from $1,000. But...

US human rights record chastised in UN report The UN has delivered a withering verdict on the US's human rights record, raising concerns on a series of issues including torture, drone strikes, the failure to close Guantánamo Bay and the NSA's bulk collection of personal data. The report was...

South Portland moves to block Alberta bitumen from reaching its port Moratorium blocking port development to ship crude could be made permanent South Portland, Maine, could be the first U.S. city to pass a law to block Alberta oilsands crude from getting anywhere near its waterfront. The city...

The Worst Atrocities Are you surprised there's a researcher who considers himself an "atrocitologist"? His name is Matthew White, and he's made a list of the 21 worst things people have done to each other. (There are 21 because of a tie for 20th place. I don't mean to be flip about it.) White...

Housing The Homeless Not Only Saves Lives -- It's Actually Cheaper Than Doing Nothing It's cheaper to give homeless men and women a permanent place to live than to leave them on the streets. That’s according to a study of an apartment complex for formerly homeless people in Charlotte, N.C...

UN: 2013 extreme weather due to human-induced climate change warming the Earth GENEVA - The head of the U.N. weather agency said Monday that recent extreme weather patterns are "consistent" with human-induced climate change, citing key events that wreaked havoc in Asia, Europe, the U.S. and...

What the fukkkk Atlantic Canada expecting up to 50 centimetres snow HALIFAX — Schools and government offices were closed and flights cancelled Wednesday in parts of Atlantic Canada as a powerful spring blizzard began its push through the region. Significant snow was forecast for all four...

Killer dust Why is asbestos still killing people? Nic Fleming finds out in a twisting tale of industry cover-ups and misinformation that spans decades. A long vertical pipe sits against white-painted brickwork in the corner of a cramped storeroom. Two men wearing orange boiler suits and gloves...

Canada softens tone in fevered Keystone debate After years of visiting Canadian ministers talking of little else – at least inside the Beltway – Transport Minister Lisa Raitt barely mentioned the controversial and long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline on Tuesday. Rail or pipeline, it doesn’t...

The Atheists' Case for Fighting Poverty A new study by Pew Research analyzes data from more than 40,000 people in 40 countries who were asked this provocative question: “Do you need God to be moral?” It is of course a staple of religious thought that without religion, the world would be morally...

Budget watchdog finds little evidence of labour, skills shortages Canada's budget watchdog says there is little evidence of serious labour shortages or a skills mismatch problem in the country. The finding by the parliamentary budget office could once again put it on a collision course with...

Sarah Thomson enters Toronto mayoral race Sarah Thomson has formally entered the race to become Toronto’s next mayor. She registered at city hall on Thursday morning. This will be the second time Thomson has taken a shot at the city’s top job. She ran in the 2010 municipal election before...

Marc Nadon appointment denied by Supreme Court Prime Minister Stephen Harper's appointment of semi-retired Federal Court judge is not constitutional Marc Nadon cannot take his seat on the Supreme Court of Canada, the court's justices said Friday. In a six to one decision, a majority of...

Pinker explains ‘The Long Peace’ Trade, literacy, governments all have helped to reduce world violence Violence may seem to be all around us. Soldiers are fighting in Afghanistan. Drug-related shootings and senseless murders splash across the nightly news, and even the schools are no haven...

Video shows Rob Ford inhaling from glass pipe, new documents reveal The infamous video shows Toronto Mayor Rob Ford appearing to inhale from a glass pipe, according to new police documents released on Wednesday. “After several seconds, Mayor Ford appears to inhale the vapour which is produced...

Obama unleashing power of data on climate change WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration hopes to fight global warming with the geeky power of numbers, maps and even gaming-type simulations. The White House on Wednesday announced an initiative to provide private companies and local...

Winter sent economy into deep freeze It’s not just the weather that’s been frosty. Canada’s economic growth has been in the deep freeze this winter amid repeated lashings of ice and snow. The Greater Toronto Area suffered through the worst winter in two decades, according to Environment...