Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he used the private helicopter of the Aga Khan during his holiday trip to the Bahamas — travel that could well represent a violation of the Conflict of Interest Act.

Speaking to reporters in Kingston, Ont. as part of a cross-country tour, Trudeau was again asked about his family vacation to the religious leader's private Bell Island.

trudeau aga khan

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with the Aga Khan on Parliament Hill in May 2016. (Photo: Chris Wattie/Reuters)

National Post reporter David Akin noted that the prime minister travelled to Nassau on the government’s Challenger plane, but the Aga Khan’s island is located 115 kilometres from there.

“Could you explain how you travelled from Nassau to the Aga Khan’s island?” Akin asked.

“The travel back and forth from Nassau to the island happens on the Aga Khan’s private helicopter which he offered us the use of,” Trudeau answered. “That’s something I think we’re in the process of explaining in detail to the media.

“And it’s something that certainly we look forward to discussing with … the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner but we don’t see an issue on that.”

Requests for ethics probe

Conservative ethics critic Blaine Calkins has asked Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson to investigate the details of Trudeau’s vacation, as has Tory leadership candidate Andrew Scheer.

In a letter to Dawson Wednesday, Calkins noted that Section 12 of the Conflict of Interest Act states:

No minister of the Crown, minister of state or parliamentary secretary, no member of his or her family and no ministerial adviser or ministerial staff shall accept travel on non-commercial chartered or private aircraft for any purpose unless required in his or her capacity as a public office holder or in exceptional circumstances or with the prior approval of the Commissioner.

“Given that, according to yourself… the Prime Minister did not contact your office in regards to any elements of this trip, had he travelled on the helicopter, he would appear to be in violation of the Act,” he wrote to Dawson.

Scheer’s earlier complaint was focused on whether the "free vacation" constituted a gift that might be seen to influence Trudeau. The Aga Khan’s foundation, which supports development projects in Africa and Asia, has received tens of millions of dollars from the federal government. It is a registered lobbyist.

Trudeau was also pressed on how such travel meets the standard he set with his own Open and Accountable government guidelines.

CBC News reporter Katie Simpson read aloud the following passage on sponsored travel:

Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries must not accept sponsored travel, i.e. travel whose costs are not wholly paid from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, or by the individual personally, or his or her political party, or an inter- parliamentary association or friendship group recognized by the House of Commons. This includes all travel on non-commercial chartered or private aircraft for any purpose except in exceptional circumstances, and only with the prior approval of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner and public disclosure of the use of such aircraft. Any hospitality accepted must strictly adhere to the requirements of the Conflict of Interest Act.

Simpson asked how he was able to “square” he didn’t break the rules when they “so clearly say” online he can’t accept that kind of travel.

Trudeau again said he would answer any questions from the conflict of interest commissioner.

“As I’ve said many times, the Aga Khan is a personal family friend and travel to and from the island only happens through private means,” he said.

The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of 15 million Ismaili Muslims, is a long-time friend of the prime minister. He also served as an honorary pallbearer at the funeral of Pierre Trudeau.

Liberal MP Seamus O’Regan and party president Anna Gainey were also on the trip, accompanied by their families. O’Regan told the National Post that no government business was discussed.

Conservatives released a video on Twitter Thursday saying Trudeau admitted to breaking the rules while on TV.

Justin Trudeau admits to breaking the rules while on national television. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/utcAI9f3UR
— Conservative Party (@CPC_HQ) January 12, 2017

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Every jar of Nutella starts with 56 roasted hazelnuts — and apparently cancer-causing palm oil.

According to the European Food Safety Authority, a recent study found palm oil was linked to an aggressive spread of cancer in mice. The oil is essential to Nutella's smooth texture and shelf life.

nutella jar

Nutella on the shelves of a supermarket in U.K. (Photo: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Food companies in Italy have already begun boycotting the oil. Several supermarkets, including the country's largest grocery store chain Coop, are also removing palm oil products, according to The Independent.

Ferrero, the company that owns Nutella and is one of Italy's best-known food brands, isn't planning any recipe changes.

“Making Nutella without palm oil would produce an inferior substitute for the real product, it would be a step backward,” Ferrero top exec Vincenzo Tapella told Reuters.

The company uses about 185,000 tonnes of palm oil a year, so switching to another oil would not be easy. Palm oil is the cheapest vegetable oil and costs about US$800 a ton, while sunflower oil, for example, costs US$845.

nutella

Nutella is sold across the world. (Photo: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

While the food safety authority raised concerns about the oil, it says the level of risk is unclear and more research is needed. It stopped short of recommending a boycott.

Nutella isn't the only delicious product that's made with the oil in question. Chocolate bars, ice cream, cookies and pizza dough also contain palm oil, according to the World Wildlife Organization.

So, Nutella may not be the healthiest product in the grocery store. But that's not really a surprise, is it?

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Icy roads, blizzards and wind chills as low as –45 C have made so-called Winterpeg live up to its nickname this January.

The conditions have caused serious headaches for city crews — nearly a year's worth of snow fell in a four-week period between December and January. The city receives an average of 110 centimetres of snow each year, according to Statistics Canada, and Winnipeg has seen over 100 centimetres of snow since the beginning of last month.

winnipeg snow

People work to free a car stuck in the snow on Dec. 7, 2016 in Winnipeg, Man. (Photo: John Woods/CP)

Canada Post has suspended mail delivery for parts of the city and southern Manitoba, and Environment Canada issued an extreme cold warning that extends into Friday.

Strong winds have also caused massive snowdrifts in Manitoba's capital.

Piles of the white stuff tower over cars, making the road feel like part of a maze of snowbanks, in a dash cam clip caught on Tuesday.

Watch the video above.

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OTTAWA — The federal government failed its employees when it didn't properly heed warning signs about its problem-plagued Phoenix pay system before rolling it out almost a year ago, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted Thursday.

"I'll admit it," Trudeau told a frustrated civil servant as he fielded questions from the public during the first major event of a cross-Canada whistle-stop tour in Kingston, Ont.

"This government ... didn't pay enough attention to the challenges and the warning signs on the transition we were overseeing."

Added the prime minister: "We are working extremely hard to fix this."

trudeau

Justin Trudeau at a news conference at city hall in Kingston, Ont., on Thursday. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Earlier Thursday, the union that represents federal scientists and other professionals urged the government to set up a separate pay system for those workers shortchanged by the ongoing problems with Phoenix.

Civil servants have run out of patience and the government needs to introduce a temporary system to ease the burden on those most affected by the debacle, said Debi Daviau, president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada.

"Our members have waited far too long, and we've heard far too many horror stories," Daviau told a news conference in Ottawa.

"Employees who are struggling with substantially reduced pay — or no pay at all — should be paid through a separate but parallel system until the problems with Phoenix are fixed and they can be reintegrated into the system."

"We are working extremely hard to fix this."

The government has said it continues to struggle with a backlog of about 8,000 cases of employees who have received either too much or too little supplemental pay such as overtime — a number Trudeau called "8,000 too many."

The backlog at one point midway through 2016 reached roughly 82,000 cases, including at the time several hundred employees who had received no pay at all — in some cases for months.

In providing its latest update on the pay problems this week, Public Services and Procurement Canada stopped offering a timetable for when the system would be fully repaired.

The deputy minister in charge of dealing with the system's failures also predicted that it's unlikely any single person will be held accountable for the pay system problems.

trudeau

Justin Trudeau answers a question at a news conference at city hall in Kingston, Ont., on Thursday. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

"Somebody needs to go to jail,'' one woman told Trudeau in Kingston. The prime minister didn't directly respond to the statement, but instead repeated that his government would redouble efforts to fix the system.

Public Services Minister Judy Foote also didn't respond directly to the union's call for a parallel, temporary pay system, saying only that the government welcomed the proposals. Nor did she take full ownership of the debacle on behalf of the Liberal government, calling it an "inherited" problem.

"Every employee" can receive emergency salary advances for missing pay, Foote said in an email from her office. To date, 904 employees in her department have received 2,612 emergency salary advances, she added.

"Somebody needs to go to jail."

"Emergency salary advances are not recovered until an employee has received his or her regular salary as well as the full amount they were owed."

But only those who have not been paid at all qualify for the emergency paycheques, said Daviau. Employees who've been short-changed on overtime or other supplemental pay are falling between the cracks, she said.

The government also acknowledged Wednesday that, while it focuses on clearing the backlog, it has been unable to meet its 20-day standard deadline for new, incoming pay changes and requests, resulting in many employees waiting for up to three months to receive supplemental pay.

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Let’s hope this isn’t some sort of metaphor for the upcoming Donald Trump era in politics.

The Trump-branded high-rise tower in Toronto is being sold off with an asking price that’s slightly lower than the money owed on the property.

Commercial real estate agency CBRE has listed the vast majority of the 56-storey hotel and condo complex for sale at an asking price of $298 million, just below the $301 million that the tower’s developer, Talon International, and others owe on it.

This is known as a “stalking horse offer,” in which a debtor who has defaulted on their loan tests the market to see if there’s any interest in their assets.

donald trump rob ford

Donald Trump and the late Rob Ford, then-mayor of Toronto, shake hands at the grand opening of his new Trump International Hotel & Tower in Toronto, Ont., April 16, 2012. (Photo: Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail via The Canadian Press)

JFC Capital, which owns the debt on the building, has said it would be willing to trade the building in exchange for the debt — in essence, a fire sale. In court documents, it says Talon defaulted on its loan in the summer of 2015.

The sale includes 211 hotel units, 74 residential units and most of the commercial and common space in the building, according to CBRE. The rest is owned by individual investor-owners, many of whom are involved in legal action against the building's developers.

In a lawsuit filed last year, a group of these investors accused Donald Trump, Talon and others involved of running “an investment scheme and conspiracy.” They say they were misled into buying the units, being told, among other things, that they would be buying directly from Donald Trump.

In fact, Trump only licenced his brand to be used on the hotel, and a Trump-owned company was contracted to run the building.

All the same, a court ruling last year declared that Donald Trump himself can be sued over the development.

trump tower toronto

A promotional photo from Talon International showing the Trump Tower in advance of its construction.

The Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto has proven a financial headache for many of its investors. Though they were told to expect 55 per cent occupancy rates in the hotel rooms they bought, occupancy only ever hit 15 to 45 per cent. Room rates declined by some 30 per cent after opening. Some investors said they were losing up to $175 a day on their hotel rooms.

All the same, CBRE suggests the building could yet be a financial success, thanks to a recent tourism boom in Toronto, helped along by a low Canadian dollar.

“It’s hard to recall a better time for the Canadian hotel industry and for Toronto in particular,” said Bill Stone, executive VP for CBRE Hotels, in a statement.

“Occupancy levels are at all-time highs, we’re seeing double-digit growth in revenues and the outlook for 2017 is even stronger with the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Canada expected to attract record numbers of tourists to our major cities.”

If the building does find a second life, it will likely be without the Trump brand on it.

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Toronto is planning to create the country's first indigenous business and cultural district.

"It's a timely initiative considering the reconciliation efforts that are underway across the country," said city Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam. She initiated the idea about six years ago because her ward has one of the city’s largest indigenous populations, up to 75,000 across Toronto.

"You can go through Little Portugal, you can go to Chinatown, you can go through Little Italy. You have these wonderful culturally diverse sections of Toronto. We don't have that type of space here for Canada's first peoples," said JP Gladu, president and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business and an Ojibwe of the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation.

"The idea is to create a space where independent business can come and flourish,” added Gladu, who is working with Wong-Tam and Chief Stacey Laforme of Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation whose traditional territory the city of Toronto and beyond is built upon.

chief laforme

Chief Stacey Laforme of Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation and Toronto city councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam at City Hall. (Photo: New Credit First Nation)

The district, which will likely combine street-level businesses, start-up incubators and a cultural gathering place, is widely supported but she says the holdup has been finding land.

"Indigenous people probably have the best sense of humour about this because the irony is not lost on them.”

Wong-Tam recently secured a site with over 13,000 sq. ft. at the downtown corner of Jarvis and Dundas streets. But the rest is to be determined, from timeline to cost to the name itself.

"I essentially said 'Whatever the name is, we will learn to pronounce it.'"

ogimaa mikana project

Toronto's Spadina Street displays a sign with its Anishinaabe name: Ishpadinaa. (Photo courtesy Ogimaa Mikana)

Laforme said, "Having a business district that also ties in the cultural aspects of things gives the indigenous people in Toronto an opportunity to showcase who they are and what they can accomplish."

Laforme believes it will also improve relations between indigenous and non-indigenous people. "The greatest thing that draws people together is finding commonalities," he said. "Having a district where it's open and welcoming, everyone will be happy to go there and learn a lot about each other.

"Having this type of district is also an opportunity for Toronto to be a leader," he added. "If we do this, and do it right, other cities across Canada, and maybe the world, can take this model on. Why can't every major city have an indigenous district?"

Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business president and CEO JP Gladu.

This indigenous business district comes on the heels of Toronto introducing indigenous names on street signs, Toronto schools acknowledging indigenous lands and plans to start hoisting the Mississaugas flag at City Hall.

"There's just so much racism right now in the country and I think it's a real opportunity to address the ignorance," Galdu said of these efforts.

"It's sometimes overwhelming. It warms my heart and make me feel like I matter. It makes indigenous people feel like they matter, that we are being taken seriously for a change, that there's energy and resources being sent our way in a way that is proactive and meaningful."

Also on HuffPost:

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Telling your boss or coworkers "no" is never easy — but sometimes it's necessary. Especially when you're already got plenty on your plate at work.

But just because you can't take on any additional tasks doesn't mean you can't still provide solutions to help them out.

You may feel guilty about turning down your colleagues but rather than looking it as a disappointment, consider it a chance to show you can prioritize and understand responsibility.

And when that moment comes, you'll want to know how to pull if off with grace and confidence, so give the video above a view to see how it's done.

“A Better 9-To-5” is a new series from HuffPost Canada Studios that aims to help you make the most of your work day. Each episode offers tips, tricks and life hacks you can use at the office to increase your productivity and well-being. From asking your boss for a raise to taking care of your constantly-sitting body to keeping your desk germ-free, this is adulting at work made easy.

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OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau's newly minted minister for democratic institutions is refusing to repeat the prime minister's campaign promise that the 2015 election would be the last conducted under the first-past-the-post voting system.

Asked twice Thursday if she's committed to ensuring the federal government honours Trudeau's promise, Karina Gould dodged both times, saying only that she's committed to getting briefed on the file.

Gould gave a similar response when asked if the government is still planning to introduce electoral reform legislation by May, as originally promised by Maryam Monsef, her predecessor in the portfolio.

The need to be briefed before commenting on specific issues is a common — and plausible — response from newly appointed ministers in any portfolio.

Karina Gould is sworn in as Minister of Democratic Institutions on Tuesday. (Photo: Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

But in Gould's case, the refusal to even repeat an explicit and unequivocal campaign promise will likely add fuel to suspicions that the Trudeau government is looking for an exit strategy on the troublesome electoral reform file.

Trudeau himself did not directly repeat the promise when asked about electoral reform Thursday during a town hall meeting in Kingston, Ont.

A woman who identified herself as a longtime Liberal asked Trudeau if he believes, as she does, that a proportional voting system — in which a party's share of seats in the House of Commons reflects its share of the popular vote — is best for Canada.

"I'm on record from before I became prime minister suggesting that I think an option in which people can rank their choices is probably suitable for Canada, but I have showed consistently that I'm open to a broad range of perspectives and views, including yours," Trudeau said.

Gov't is listening to Canadians: PM

"And what we are doing is we are listening carefully to Canadians, we are looking at the recommendations of the committee and we are going to move forward on improving our electoral system in a way that is consistent with the priorities and values that Canadians express."

Trudeau described electoral reform as "a complicated issue that people feel very strongly about on a number of different sides of the issue."

Indeed, it has been problematic for the government from the outset.

The Liberals waited six months before creating the promised all-party committee to explore alternatives to first-past-the post, even though the chief electoral officer had warned that Elections Canada would need a full two years to get any new voting system up and running in time for the next federal election in October 2019.

trudeau

Justin Trudeau speaks during a town hall meeting in Belleville, Ont., on Thursday. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

It botched the launch of the committee by initially insisting that Liberal MPs should have majority control, which prompted opposition accusations that Trudeau wanted to impose his preferred ranked ballot voting system because it would primarily benefit the Liberal party.

The Liberals eventually ceded control over the committee and, in December, the opposition majority recommended that the government design a new proportional voting system and hold a national referendum to gauge public support for it. However, Liberal committee members urged Trudeau to abandon his campaign promise, arguing that there's no consensus on electoral reform and not enough time to implement it by 2019.

Monsef accused the committee of failing to do its job, for which she later apologized. But she too argued there was no consensus on the issue and warned that reform would not happen without broad support from Canadians.

She then launched an online survey, MyDemocracy.ca, which was mocked mercilessly for failing to ask Canadians for their opinions about any specific voting options. That survey closes Sunday.

"I'm committed to getting briefed up and making sure I'm as up to speed as possible on this file."

As Gould steps into the file, there is little appetite left for all-party collaboration and time is rapidly running out.

Asked in an interview Thursday if she and the government are still committed to ensuring that the voting system is reformed before the 2019 election, Gould said: "I'm committed to getting briefed up and making sure I'm as up to speed as possible on this file."

She noted that she's been the minister for just two days.

"At this point, it means doing some reading, asking some questions, having conversations and then moving on from there."

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MONTREAL — An extended Quebec family has found out there are at least 60 million reasons to attend the traditional family New Year's dinner.

It was on Jan. 1 when Annie Roy suggested to her relatives around the table they should form a group to buy tickets for the Jan. 6 Lotto Max draw.

On Thursday, that initiative paid off as 26 family members, plus two close friends, were given cheques for winning the $60-million jackpot, which Loto-Quebec calls its biggest ever payout.

Not a bad return on a total outlay of $100.

"We have some teachers, some engineers, some students, some retired...and (soon) we will have more retired!"

Roy, who has already gone back to purchase another ticket, said the winners are aged between 21 and 71.

All but one hail from Quebec's Monteregie region, southeast of Montreal, according to Roy's spouse, Gilles Leprohon.

"We have some teachers, some engineers, some students, some retired...and (soon) we will have more retired!'' he said.

quebec lotto winners

The lottery winners celebrate after receiving their cheques on Thursday in Montreal. (Photo: Paul Chiasson/CP)

Leprohon, who works on contract for Loto-Quebec, says he's seen many lottery winners announced over the years and that it is surreal to join them.

"I always hoped, but it's only a chance, and now it's my chance,'' said the 58-year-old, who hopes to retire in the spring.

The family members say they haven't all decided on how to spend their money, but some list vacations, new vehicles and setting money aside for young children as among their priorities.

quebec lotto winners

Lottery winner Jean-Marie Boivin shows off a lottery ticket purchased for the next lottery on Thursday in Montreal. Twenty-six members of the same family, including Boivin, and two friends, are sharing a $60-million lottery win. (Photo: Paul Chiasson/CP)

Roy's cousin, Julie Boivin, said she got some funny looks when she showed up for work as usual on Monday morning.

"My colleagues found I was a bit strange...I thought it was completely normal (to go to work), but I guess not,'' she said.

"We're trying not to change too much, because we want to keep our feet on the ground.''

The ticket was bought at a gas station in Ange-Gardien, about 75 kilometres east of Montreal.

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Portland, Ore., was hit with a massive blizzard this week, forcing the Oregon Zoo to shut down to visitors on Wednesday and Thursday.

More than 30 centimetres of snow hit the city in just a few days, leaving human residents not too happy.

Due to snow, the Oregon Zoo will be closed Thursday, Jan. 12. https://t.co/KO7Gdol1f4 pic.twitter.com/l3R78E6G5Q
— Oregon Zoo (@OregonZoo) January 12, 2017

But the zoo's animals were delighted.

On Wednesday, a worker went in to check on the animals and caught an adorable video of polar bears, sea otters and more, playing in the snow.

Watch the adorable video above.

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Marijuana and cannabis can help to safely alleviate pain for some patients but many uncertainties remain about their health and safety risks, according to a major scientific review published Thursday.

A committee of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine looked at more than 10,000 scientific abstracts to reach its nearly 100 conclusions.

The report by a 17-member panel offers a "rigorous review of relevant scientific research published since 1999," said a statement from NASEM.

Cannabis, the scientific name for the plant whose dried buds and leaves make marijuana, is the most popular illicit drug in the United States.

A recent nationwide survey showed more than 22 million Americans ages 12 and older reported using the drug in the past 30 days.

Nine in 10 adult users said it was for recreational purposes, with just 10 per cent saying it was solely for medical purposes.

"For years the landscape of marijuana use has been rapidly shifting as more and more states are legalizing cannabis for the treatment of medical conditions and recreational use," said Marie McCormick, chair of the committee and a professor of maternal and child health at Harvard University.

"This growing acceptance, accessibility, and use of cannabis and its derivatives have raised important public health concerns."

She said the report aims to address the fact that the "lack of any aggregated knowledge of cannabis-related health effects has led to uncertainty about what, if any, are the harms or benefits from its use."

- Benefits -

The report found that patients who used cannabis to treat chronic pain were "more likely to experience a significant reduction in pain symptoms."

Adults with multiple sclerosis-related muscle spasms also improved their symptoms when using certain "oral cannabinoids" — or man-made, cannabinoid-based medications.

Conclusive evidence was also found that these oral cannabinoids could prevent and treat nausea and vomiting in people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

"Smoking cannabis does not increase the risk for cancers often associated with tobacco use — such as lung and head and neck cancers," added the report.

The committee "found limited evidence that cannabis use is associated with one sub-type of testicular cancer."

- Risks -

Risks of cannabis use however include the possibility of triggering a heart attack, but more research is needed to understand "whether and how cannabis use is associated with heart attack, stroke, and diabetes."

Smoking cannabis can lead to bronchitis and chronic cough, but "quitting cannabis smoking is likely to reduce these conditions" and it remains unclear if there is any link to respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, or worsened lung function.

When it comes to mental health, the committee found that "cannabis use is likely to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia, other psychoses, and social anxiety disorders, and to a lesser extent depression."

Thoughts of suicide can increase among heavy cannabis users, and may make bipolar disorder symptoms worse.

But in people with schizophrenia and other psychoses, "a history of cannabis use may be linked to better performance on learning and memory tasks," it said.

The more people use cannabis — and the younger they start — the more likely they are to develop a what is known as "problem cannabis use."

But the committee found limited evidence that cannabis use increases the rate of initiating other drug use.

Even if brain functions such as learning, memory, and attention are impaired after using cannabis, researchers found few signs of long-term damage in people who have stopped smoking it.

In pregnant women, some evidence has shown that smoking cannabis during pregnancy is linked to lower birth weight, but the relationship with other pregnancy and childhood outcomes is unclear.

Accidents among children, including ingesting cannabis, have risen sharply since the substance was legalized in some parts of the United States.

Not surprisingly. the report found "substantial evidence" that cannabis use is linked to impaired driving and vehicle crashes.

Advocates of medical marijuana said the report showed that cannabis can help people, and urged the federal government to legalize it.

"Smoking cannabis does not increase the risk for cancers often associated with tobacco use — such as lung and head and neck cancers."

Marijuana is currently a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, which means it is determined to have no medical value.

"This report is vindication for all the many researchers, patients and healthcare providers who have long understood the benefits of medical marijuana," said Michael Collins, deputy director of national affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance.

Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML, a lobbying group that aims to legalize marijuana, pointed out that the evidence is not new.

"Yet for decades marijuana policy in this country has largely been driven by rhetoric and emotion, not science and evidence," he said.

"At a minimum, we know enough about cannabis, as well as the failures of cannabis prohibition, to regulate its consumption by adults, end its longstanding criminalization, and to remove it from its Schedule I prohibitive under federal law."

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There are many reasons why people may experience hair loss, so in an attempt to combat the issue, many people use thickening shampoos.

But the problem is, these products are more likely doing more harm than good.

Recently on "The Doctors," Gail Federici, hair care innovator and CEO of Color Wow, discussed how thickening shampoos and conditioners can actually provoke the thinning of hair, rather than do what they promise.

"More and more ingredients have been added to shampoos that have nothing to do with cleansing," Federici says. "So if you have thinning hair, you're massaging these ingredients into your scalp and they can stay behind and leave build up. They don't easily rinse off."

hair loss

Cleansing is what a shampoo should do, so if you have thinning hair, Federici recommends not using a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, as it's loaded with ingredients that are engineered to stay behind in the hair. This does not make for a healthy scalp as it can obstruct hair growth.

And an important thing to remember when conditioning the hair is to only apply the product halfway down your hair and never to the scalp.

If you want to use products to regain some sort of thickness, Federici suggests using thickening styling products, used on the hair after washing.

For more about how your shampoo can make a difference when it comes to hair loss, check out the video above.

And for hair care products designed for hair loss, check out the slideshow below:

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Straight up: it's never ideal when you turn up to a party, event or work wearing the same thing as someone else.

(Or maybe you do think it's ideal, and in that case, we propose you take a selfie and caption it #twinning on Instagram.)

But those of us who have been hit with a case of the "omg she stole my look!" know the best way to deal with it is to have a good laugh and move along.

However, who wasn't able to follow Taylor Swift's advice and just "Shake It Off?" One TV anchor on Nine News Now.

In a video obtained by media site Mumbrella, Australian news presenters Amber Sherlock and Julie Snook, along with psychologist Sandy Rea, all appeared on camera wearing white.

australian tv white shirts

Unfortunately, Sherlock did not take the matching outfits well, and spiraled into a passive-aggressive exchange with Snook, who she said needed to change ASAP.

"I need Julie to put a jacket on, because we're all in white. I asked her before we came on. Julie, you need to put a jacket on," Sherlock said to Snook, who looked utterly perplexed.

"There can't be three of us [wearing white] and I made this clear two and a half hours ago... I wasn't saying it for no reason, the wardrobe girls are going to be furious," Sherlock continued.

Cue the Twitter reactions:

On Wednesdays we wear white #ambersherlock #MeanGirls pic.twitter.com/lK324bMSWk
— Jennifer Young (@JenFidler83) January 12, 2017

It worked for the Bee Gees! #AmberSherlock #WardrobeWillBeFurious pic.twitter.com/stj4xffKlc
— Michael Smyth (@MichaelSmyth_) January 12, 2017

Ok. Someone is gonna need to put a jacket on!!! #channel9 #ambersherlock pic.twitter.com/PV58DAHTJF
— Joel Gelding (@JoelGelding) January 12, 2017

At first, Snook was confused and said she was wearing blue. But Sherlock said "it doesn't look like that."

The video feed then went blank for a few seconds, and Snook came back onscreen wearing a black jacket over her blouse (which totally worked).

nine news now

Despite the riff, who could blame these woman for all wearing white? It's summer in Australia, for goodness sake. It's hot. And white is the best colour to keep cool in the heat because it reflects wavelengths of energy coming in.

After the live white wardrobe meltdown, Sherlock released a statement saying, "Live TV can be a pretty stressful beast, at times. It’s never much fun rocking up to work or to a party in the same outfit as one of your colleagues or friends. I probably overreacted with the pressure of presenting a live news bulletin."

And believe it or not, Amber and Julie are actually friends in real life despite the "issue."

"Amber and I are good friends and I really enjoy working with her," Julie said. "News is a fast-moving environment and sometimes these things happen."

All we know is Sandy Rea is all of us watching this awkward video — uncomfortable.

sandy rae

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Canada is “worse than a laggard,” according to a new report calling the country “last among its global peers” when it comes to international aid spending.

Global Canada, a non-governmental organization, published its second annual report this week, highlighting the country’s commitment to international aid as close to an all-time low.

The report notes current aid levels to be about two per cent of the federal budget.

trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a town hall event in Kingston, Ont. on Jan. 12. (Photo: Cole Burston/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“This situation is not the Trudeau government’s fault, but is now its responsibility,” said Robert Greenhill, the group’s founder in a column published in The Globe and Mail. He called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to correct Canada’s course on foreign aid.

“By keeping most of the discretionary cuts imposed in Stephen Harper’s last years, the first Liberal budget actually had lower support for development (26 cents per $100 of national income) than the average of the Harper government (30 cents).”

In order for Canada to match international assistance levels set by G7, the government would have to double its contribution, the report suggests.

The budget would have to increase to 56 cents per $100 of national income — a bar set by “like-minded countries” such as Australia, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, and Norway.

Canada's support for development only half that of its global peers. @OpenCanada @ccic #BridgetheGap #CdnAid #CdnPoli pic.twitter.com/G5Hwrrww1U
— Robert Greenhill (@RobertGreenhill) January 13, 2017

There’s economic merit in international aid spending, the report notes. It brings up the example of China — one of the largest recipients of Canadian aid in the ‘90s — and how the country has become “the second largest market for Canadian products today.”

When it comes to development and defence spending, Canada is tied for last with Japan, Greenhill said.

“What a pity, and potential tragedy, that Canada has been taking such a minimalist approach to international assistance,” the report reads.

BBC News - Canada last in foreign aid + defence spending @OpenCanada @CCCICCIC https://t.co/fcfuA56uD3 pic.twitter.com/ZeKdbSJ6ys
— Robert Greenhill (@RobertGreenhill) January 13, 2017

The federal government said the conclusions in the report are similar to those already expressed in an ongoing review of Canada’s international aid program.

“We agree that our investments are critical for changing the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable,” international development and La Francophonie spokesman Bernard Boutin told The Huffington Post Canada.

“We know that Canadians and our international partners want us to be engaged in the world.”

Boutin said Global Affairs is mindful of where Canadians want to see foreign aid dollars go — to programs that align with a "respect for human rights, inclusiveness and good governance."

He added: “We are in the process of changing course and we want to focus our efforts where we will have the greatest impacts: evidence-based investments that will empower the poorest and most vulnerable and save lives. Sexual and reproductive health and rights are a strong example of this type of investment.

“We know that Canadians and our international partners want us to be engaged in the world.”

Canada to world: ‘We’re here to help’

In his first year in office, Trudeau made a concerted effort to sell Canada as a globally minded and giving nation.

“We’re Canadian. And we’re here to help,” Trudeau said in a speech to the United Nations’ General Assembly last September.

The prime minister pledged to increase Canada’s role in UN peacekeeping missions. So far, $450 million and 600 troops have been allocated for an unconfirmed mission or series of deployments.

Conversely, the strategy of using the prime minister’s personal “brand” to woo a global audience has also brought more high-profile pressure for Trudeau to deliver.

Celebrities including musicians Bono and Rihanna have also called on the prime minister to increase Canada's foreign aid investment, particularly with global health and education programs.

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A Conservative leadership candidate who has built her campaign around bashing “elites” reportedly reminded a young Tory questioning her policies that there's a reason she has all kinds of letters attached to her name.

Kellie Leitch, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, also made it clear online Friday that she's proud of her many titles and accomplishments.

Kellie Leitch speaks during the Conservative leadership debate in Saskatoon on Nov. 9, 2016. (Photo: Liam Richards/The Canadian Press)

According to The Prince Arthur Herald, an online student newspaper in Montreal, Leitch was speaking to student supporters in the city Thursday when she was questioned about her plans to scrap the Indian Act without consulting indigenous groups first.

“Please understand that I do have 22 letters at the end of my name. I’m not an idiot,” Leitch told the critic.

The Prince Arthur Herald posted a short clip of the exchange online:

After the story blew up on social media, with many suggesting it clashed with her overtly populist campaign, Leitch doubled down.

“I apologize for the error, I have 18 letters after my name, not 22,” she tweeted. “Each is an achievement I worked hard for.”

I apologize for the error, I have 18 letters after my name, not 22. Each is an achievement I worked hard for. -kkl https://t.co/q6I6naKWTW
— Kellie Leitch (@KellieLeitch) January 13, 2017

The Library of Parliament actually lists 16 letters after Leitch’s name. Her title reads: The Hon. Dr. K. Kellie, P.C., O.Ont., M.D., M.B.A., F.R.C.S.(C).

“The Hon.” is a designation earned from her time cabinet, “O.Ont.” represents that she has received the Order of Ontario, and “F.R.C.S.(C)” means she is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada.

She holds a medical degree (M.D). and masters of business administration (M.B.A.). Presumably, the other two letters to which Leitch was referring represent her bachelor of arts (B.A.).

The story comes on the heels of a Maclean’s feature from writers Martin Patriquin and Charlie Gillis that also sparked buzz online.

In a profile of Leitch’s campaign manager Nick Kouvalis, a former Conservative staffer seemingly pointed out a contradiction between the MP’s recent anti-elite rhetoric and past behaviour.

From the Maclean’s piece:

Felix Wong, who served as the Conservative senior political operations officer in Ontario in the 2015 election, remembers getting a phone call from Leitch in the early weeks of the campaign. Leitch, Wong remembers, was irate that her business cards didn’t say “Doctor” before her name. Wong, who was 27 at the time, said the card template didn’t allow for honorifics.

“You’re lying,” Leitch yelled, according to Wong. “This is unacceptable. Even the prime minister [Stephen Harper] introduced me as Dr. Kellie Leitch this morning. I’ve earned all these titles. Do you have these titles after your name? No.” Wong said Leitch then threatened to call Harper if the cards weren’t fixed. (Leitch’s campaign didn’t respond to a request for comment.)

Leitch has frequently slammed so-called elites, particularly in the “left-wing media,” for criticizing her controversial call to screen immigrants and visitors for “anti-Canadian values.”

Shortly after Donald Trump was elected the next U.S. president in November, the former cabinet minister released a fundraising email lauding how “our American cousins threw out the elites.”

Leitch's campaign has also used the label to criticize her opponents in the leadership contest.

When Saskatchewan MP Andrew Scheer joined the race in September, Kouvalis derided him as an “out-of-touch elite” for launching his bid at Ottawa’s National Press Theatre.

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Although Canada may not be known as a cruise hot spot, there are ports across the country that will let you explore nearby places (and beyond) by water.

Cruise adventures are not for everyone: they are generally pricey and you are limited to a strict itinerary by the cruise line. But for those of you who like to plan, travel in large groups or enjoy being out on the water, a cruise is a perfect way to hit many destinations at once.

"Check for seasonality and the itinerary – make sure you’re hitting the ports of call you want and therefore ensuring that you are getting a great experience in each of your destinations," says Jordanna Botting, director of cruise sales at Tully Luxury Travel.

Botting adds when it comes to planning vacations, book early to get the best deals, talk to an agent for the best options and make sure you look up the vessel to see its features (size, restaurants, entertainment, etc.).

Below, we take a look at some major ports in the country, as well as trip ideas from each one.

City of departure: Vancouver

If you live on the West Coast, there are several destinations calling your name. The Port of Vancouver offers 13 cruise lines with multiple destinations. For 2017, most ships start leaving the port in April.

Where to go:

Hawaii
hawaii

Who wouldn't want to spend a week in this tropical paradise? Several cruise lines will take you to the state.

The pick: Carnival 10 Day Hawaii Cruise
Price range: Starting at $1,009.
Sites to see: The cruise makes stops to the islands of Kauai and Maui and ends in Honolulu.
The features: An adult-only retreat, comedy club and a casino.
Length of trip: 10 days.

Alaska
alaska cruise

If you're a fan of glaciers, mountains and a cold breeze, then travelling to Alaska is the best way to take in the view.

The pick: Celebrity Cruise Alaska Northern Glacier Cruise
Price range: Starting at $1,050.
Sites to see: The ship makes stops at Icy Strait Point, Juneau and Ketchikan.
The features: A rooftop terrace (wait till you see the views!), a spa and several restaurants.
Length of trip: Seven nights.

As one of Canada's largest ports, other destinations from Vancity include Mexico, the Pacific Rim (ending in Japan) and a 38-night cruise from B.C. to Brazil.

City of departure: Montreal

The city offer 16 cruise packages as well as an option to take a ride through the St. Lawrence River. In 2017, cruise season at Montreal's port starts in May.

Where to go:

Fort Lauderdale, Florida
fort lauderdale florida

Who doesn't want to head to the beach? If you do want to end up in Florida, cruise lines will make several Canadian and American stops beforehand.

The pick: Holland America Line 13-Day Atlantic Coast
Price range: Starting at $2,859.
Sites to see: The 13-day tour makes stops in Charlottetown, P.E.I, New York and Charleston, South Carolina before hitting the Sunshine State.
The features: A basketball and tennis court, a showroom and a culinary arts centre.
Length of trip: 13 days.

Bermuda/Boston
hamilton bermuda

Bermuda may seem out of the way (especially if you're starting in Montreal), but one cruise line will take you all the way there and drop you off in Boston.

The pick: Holland America Line 14-Day Bermuda & Canada/New England Collectors'
Price range: Starting at $2.573.
Sites to see: The Saint Lawrence River, Bar Harbor in Maine and of course, four days in Bermuda.
The features: A spa, several restaurants and a fitness centre.
Length of trip: 14 days.

City of departure: Iqaluit
nunavut

If you are looking for a cruise of a lifetime (and don't mind cold weather), there are several cruise lines that pass through and start in Nunavut. However, this is one of the priciest ways to see the North — flights to the territory are not included and often depart from very expensive from cities like Toronto and Ottawa.

The pick: Adventure Canada's Heart of the Arctic 2017
Price range: Starting at $5,247.
Sites to see: On this cruise you'll make stops in Akpatok Island, South Baffin Island and end in Greenland.
The features: Spot polar bears, check out a 24-hour theatre and indulge in evening entertainment.
Length of trip: 13 days.

City of departure: Québec City
chateau frontenac

The Port of Québec in 2015 welcomed 29 ships from around the world. While it is both a stop and a departure point, it is the first cruise ship destination on the St. Lawrence. In 2017, trips tend to start late fall.

Where to go:

New Jersey

The pick: 11 Night Fall Foliage Cruise
Price range: Starting at $1,181.
Sites to see: Sydney, N.S. and Boston before the trip ends in Cape Liberty, New Jersey.
The features: Eight pools, eight bars and lounges and five restaurants.
Length of trip: 11 nights.

And like the port of Montreal, other destinations leaving from Québec City include Fort Lauderdale, Boston and Rhode Island, New York.

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A tearful Ontario grandmother feeling crushed by the cost of her hydro bill asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a town hall Friday to justify putting a federal price on carbon.

The woman, identified by CBC News as Kathy Katula of Buckhorn, Ont., sparked applause by sharing her struggle to make ends meet at a gathering in Peterborough. The prime minister, who is on a grassroots tour across the country, later embraced Katula.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with an emotional Kathy Katula following a news conference in Peterborough, Ont. on Jan. 13. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/CP)

“My heat and hydro now cost me more than my mortgage. I now not only work 75 hours a week, I stay and work 15 hours a day just so I don’t lose my home,” she told Trudeau, adding that she wears a leg brace and has epilepsy.

Katula claimed her hydro bill has reached as high as $1,085. She did not state if that figure represented a monthly total or several months, but said she's in "energy poverty."

“How do you justify to a mother of four children, three grandchildren, physical disabilities, and working up to 15 hours a day…. How is it justified for you to ask me to pay a carbon tax when I only have $65 left of my paycheque every two weeks to feed my family?” she asked.

Trudeau lauded her strength and determination, suggesting it’s unfair she wasn’t able to focus instead on how best to spoil her grandkids.

Watch the entire exchange from Global News:

The prime minister said that while hydro rates are a provincial matter, he understands his government’s plans to price carbon is causing “consternation” among some Canadians.

As the world transitions away from fossil fuels, he said, it is important that those already feeling stretched “beyond the breaking limit” aren’t penalized.

He noted that his government’s plan does not kick in until 2018. If provinces or territories do not implement either a cap-and-trade or carbon tax by that time, the federal government will impose a carbon price in that jurisdiction of $10 per tonne, rising to $50 per tonne in 2022.

Any revenues generated will be given back to those provinces or territories.

'We need to make this transition'

“We are not taking any money outside of the jurisdictions that pay those carbon taxes so it will be up the government of Ontario to ensure that you are not penalized,” Trudeau said, adding he trusts all provinces to be responsible.

But Trudeau said the world needs to get off of fossil fuels.

“We need to make this transition,” he said.

Ontario launched a cap-and-trade system this month. Alberta also ushered in a carbon tax.

But sky-high hydro rates have taken a toll on residents in Canada’s most populous province, particularly in rural communities, as Ontario phased out burning coal to generate electricity.

Ontario’s auditor general has said the electricity portion of hydro bills for homes and small businesses spiked 70 per cent between 2006 and 2014.

With files from The Canadian Press

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OTTAWA — Two of Russia's nervous neighbours are urging the Trudeau Liberals to use Canada's close relationship with the U.S. to encourage the incoming Trump administration not to become too cosy with the Kremlin.

The ambassadors of Ukraine and Latvia tell The Canadian Press that Canada's historic friendship and alliance with the world's only superpower puts it in a strong position to advise president-elect Donald Trump to be wary of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland speak in Belgium on Oct. 30, 2016. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/CP)

The envoys also say new Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland can deliver that message to Washington because of her strong network of contacts in the U.S., as well as her past experience as a journalist who reported extensively from Ukraine and Russia.

Trump has frequently complimented Putin, even though American intelligence agencies say Putin engineered cyberattacks designed to affect the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

Trump said for the first time this week that Russia might have been behind the cyberattacks.

But he has also said the U.S. needs to improve relations with Russia, saying if Putin likes him that's an "asset" for the U.S. because the country has a "horrible relationship with Russia."

"There are so many people around the world who hope that Canada will educate the new administration in Washington, D.C., and that Canada will help the new administration in the U.S. make a firm stand on Russia."

"There are so many people around the world who hope that Canada will educate the new administration in Washington, D.C., and that Canada will help the new administration in the U.S. make a firm stand on Russia," Andriy Shevchenko, the Ukrainian ambassador to Canada, said in an interview.

"The world and countries like mine expect of Canada that it will show a lot of leadership in dealing with the new U.S. administration."

Karlis Eihenbaums, the Latvian ambassador, said Canada is widely viewed as a trusted ally and close friend of the U.S. which will hopefully help advance the interests of NATO in Washington. Trump has criticized NATO as obsolete and said the U.S. will not automatically come to the aid of its allies.

Canada is sending 450 troops to Latvia, a fellow NATO member, as a deterrent to Russia after it annexed Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and president-elect Donald Trump. (Photo: YouTube/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

"The U.S. and Canada are constantly consulting each other and doing so in a frank and candid manner, informally and officially," said Eihenbaums

He called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent decision to name Freeland as foreign affairs minister "very smart" because of her past experience in the region.

"It means that her perspectives will be unique and insightful and I presume, that the Americans will listen to what she has to say."

Shevchenko has known Freeland since the 1990s, when he was a Kyiv-based television reporter and she was a foreign correspondent splitting her time between the Ukraine capital and Moscow.

Freeland 'knows the way Russians think'

"She knows the way Russians think," Shevchenko said. "She knows the strong and the weak sides of the corrupt Russian elite and she knows how they make decisions."

Freeland's new mandate includes overseeing Canada-U.S. relations. Her appointment has been widely viewed as pre-emptive move by the Trudeau government to have a strong voice with Washington on a variety of issues, including trade.

Freeland, who will represent Canada at Trump's inauguration next Friday, has a wide network of contacts in the U.S. capital and was vigorously working its power corridors before Christmas in her former cabinet post as trade minister.

"Our government has been working hard to develop some personal connections with some of the leading voices in the new administration and the president-elect's team," Freeland told a CBC affiliate in Toronto on Friday.

"We've been focusing particularly on those shared economic interests, on that mutually beneficial trading relationship," she added.

"For all the differences between our countries and our governments, we do have a very strong shared interest in middle-class jobs and growth."

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The bromance between Zach Galifianakis and Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark continues.

Clark tweeted a photo Friday morning of the Hollywood comedian wearing a "Charlie Clark Mayor 2016" shirt while visiting the Los Angeles Zoo.

Zach sent this photo in from the Los Angeles zoo - sporting his Saskatoon gear! #yxe pic.twitter.com/rlX0jV2VCx
— Charlie Clark (@charlieclarkyxe) January 13, 2017

The shirt, designed by Saskatoon body piercing studio Schamatta, features a picture of Clark flanked by unicorns.

So, why would Galifianakis wear such a seemingly random T-shirt on such an outing? It turns out he is married to one of Clark's cousins.

And this isn't the first time Galifianakis has shown his support for his Canadian family member.

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark. (Photo: Facebook)

In October, Clark tweeted a decidedly amateur video of Galifianakis urging voters to mark their ballots in the civic election.

Galifianakis said Clark was a "splendid man" and "would be a great leader and a fabulous mayor for Saskatoon."

Clark won the election.

Watch Zach Galifianakis' endorsement video above.

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As if trudging through the snow and slush wasn’t bad enough, winter brings an entirely different set of style dilemmas and struggles.

Whether your hair is standing up on its ends from static, or red lipstick has just smeared all over your favourite cream sweater, we’ve rounded up our go-to winter style hacks to help you survive it all.

Lipstick stains

Reds on point. #BeLegendary120 Lipsticks, clockwise from left: Get Fired (warm red), Grenadine (blue-toned red), Bing (classic red), Legendary (true red), Right On Red (red wine), Invite Only (rosy red). All on smashbox.com.

A photo posted by Smashbox Cosmetics (@smashboxcosmetics) on Nov 15, 2016 at 6:36pm PST

Lipstick is quintessential for any winter outfit, and the Be Legendary creamy red lipstick from Smashbox ($25) is the perfect choice.

But what happens when you accidentally get some lippy on your clothes? The horror! But don't fret. Lipstick is waxy and greasy (that’s how you get a smooth finish), so the best way to remove it from your clothing is to use dish soap. It’ll cut through the grease and lift the stain from your garment in no time.

Red wine

Whether you’re a red wine drinker or not, you've probably had the deep-pigmented liquid spilled all over you. If that splash of red wine hits your favourite piece of clothing, or even your favorite tablecloth, don’t rub the stain out; you want to avoid spreading the stain around.

Rather, dab the stain with a damp white cotton cloth to absorb any excess wine (avoid anything with colour because you can cause that to bleed into the stain and that’s a whole new problem to solve). Slide a bowl under the fabric, centering the stain over it. Sprinkle salt over the stain and add boiling water. From there, machine-wash the garment.

If this whole operation isn’t feasible for the time being (say you’re out at an event or party), dab (again, don’t rub) the garment with a white cloth and club soda to hold you over.

Fuzz balls

fuzz on sweater

There’s nothing worse than your favourite sweater being covered in little fuzzies. The best way to avoid this is to wash your sweaters inside out without any items that may have a lot of lint attached to them (like towels). But if it’s too late (and the damage is done), then simply run a disposable razor (like this Bic Soleil Razors, $6) lightly over the sweater. Be sure not to press too hard as you can create small knicks in your sweater.

Itchy sweaters

woman in sweater

Do you have a sweater or scarf that you love, but it’s itchy? Simply soak it in vinegar for about 15 minutes, and then gently massage with your favorite conditioner.

We love this one from Matrix, as it’s designed to nourish over-processed hair, so we figure it should do the same for your clothing. Let the sweater soak in the conditioner for about a half hour then rinse gently and lay flat to dry.

Shedding

Staff cashmere pick: “So beyond cozy. I live in this on the weekends." —Courtney, our production designer, in the Italian cashmere V-neck sweater in heather dove. Shop it via the link in our bio.

A photo posted by J.Crew (@jcrew) on Dec 27, 2016 at 1:51pm PST

Speaking of lint, if you have a fussy sweater like this one from J. Crew ($94) that will NOT stop shedding, simply put it in the freezer before each wear. It will tighten up the fibres and prevent it from shedding all over the place.

Static

Static is basically our arch nemesis during the winter months. Whether it’s our hair standing up straight or our clothing sticking to us like glue, static can ruin your day. Luckily, there’s an easy fix — dryer sheets! Simply run an unused sheet over your hair, your clothing, or whatever your trouble area is.

Some things to consider during the winter months is avoiding over-drying. When putting clothing in the dryer, be sure to remove them promptly. Likewise, with your hair, you want to avoid over-drying it and finish with products like serums or oils to help prevent the static. It’s also worth noting that synthetic fibres are much more prone to static, so consider natural fabrics like cotton and wool if you feel like you’re losing the battle with static.

Prevent runs in you stockings

run in stocking

Nothing will kill your lady boss vibe faster than a run in your stockings. A great fix and preventive tip for runs in your pantyhose is to use hairspray. Give your stockings a little spritz in the usual trouble areas (read: around the toes) and you should be good to go.

And if you’ve noticed a little run starting, but you a) don’t have time to change, or b) you’re at work or an event, simply spritz with the run with hairspray, and it will prevent it from getting any worse. You’ll never regret tossing a travel-sized hairspray in your bag during the cooler months.

Lint

back in black! Free shipping on everything including beautyblender® pro & micro.mini pro. Tap link in profile to shop. Offer ends midnight Cyber Monday. #beautyblender #blackfriday

A photo posted by beautyblender (@beautyblender) on Nov 25, 2016 at 10:10am PST

If you’re losing the battle with fuzz from layering your sweaters or your faux fur, the answer could be in your beauty bag! If you don’t have a lint roller handy, use a clean beauty blender ($25) to pull off any excess lint.

Kayla Short is the Halifax-based fashion and lifestyle blogger behind Short Presents. She answers all of your pressing style questions with her biweekly column, Style Rescue. Follower her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for more style advice and inspiration.

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