Gay men will soon be able to donate blood in Canada for the first time since 1977.

Canadian Blood Services announced today that gay men will be able to donate blood starting this summer, as long as they have not had sex with other men in five years, and meet all other requirements. This is a change from previous policy which had a lifetime ban for donation by any men who had had sex with other men.

For those wondering, the ban was first set in place because technology had not quite allowed for proper screening of blood for HIV.

Harper has been under fire over the past few days for the complete unraveling of a huge scandal within his own office as well as the Senate. Here are the main points of the entire thing:

• Nigel Wright, Harper’s former Chief of Staff, paid Senate member Mike Duffy out of his own pocket for improperly claimed expenses. The cheques was for over $90,000. 
• Duffy has been the cause of much commotion in the Senate lately (he was appointed by Harper but now sits as an independent). He was the centre of issues that had to do with housing allowances earlier in the year. However, Duffy has said that his expenses do not merit criticism. 
• After news broke of the cheque, Wright resigned this past weekend.
• Harper refused to talk about the issues yesterday in a caucus meeting, asking media to leave the room after a short and question-yielding speech. He then flew to Peru (above), on an official government trip.
• From Peru, Harper finally took questions from the media about the issue, saying he is angry, sorry, and frustrated, and that he did not know about the cheque. 
• Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has lots of questions, and so does NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair. Video here.

And that’s where we stand, folks!

Click here to read an awesome article about Chris Hadfield’s return to Earth. Highlights include:

• how his body is adjusting to gravity after five months of weightlessness - from the weight of his tongue when talking to wearing a special suit to force blood flow to his head;
• his popularity on social media; and,
• what his future plans are, including Ottawa’s Canada Day festivities and the Calgary Stampede.

Today is the International Day Against Homophobia. From their website:

The International Day Against Homophobia, held on May 17 every year, is a rallying event offering an opportunity for people to get together and reach out to one another. Fondation Émergence promotes, mainly on a pan-Canadian level, the International Day Against Homophobia and encourages organisations and individuals to highlight this event in their environment.

To learn about homophobia and how to fight it, click here!

Happy Victoria Day Weekend!

Victoria Day celebrates Queen Victoria’s birthday, which is May 24. While the Queen’s birthday was celebrated in Canada long before confederation, in 1901 (following her death) the day was made a federal holiday.

We celebrate Queen Victoria’s birthday, and not those of other sovereigns,  because Victoria was queen during confederation in 1867. She is referred to as the “Mother of Confederation”.

Have a great long weekend and stay safe!

RIP Elijah Harper, who died this morning of heart failure from diabetes complications at the age of 64. Harper was born on Red Sucker Lake First Nation, in Manitoba, and attended three residential schools before studying at University of Manitoba.

Harper was a politician and Aboriginal leader for most of his life, and is most known for his role in blocking the Meech Lake Accord in 1990. Harper was an NDP opposition member when he prevented the accord from being ratified by the federal deadlines. The Accord was designed to get Quebec’s signature on the Canadian Constitution, and ignored any Aboriginal rights. Last minute attempts to appease Harper and other Aboriginal leaders failed and the Meech Lake Accord was blocked.

Harper was the first First Nations person in Manitoba to serve as a Member of the Legislative Assembly. 

To read more about the Meech Lake Accord, click here.

RIP Tim Bosma of Ancaster, whose remains were found yesterday, ten days after he went missing. Bosma was abducted and murdered by men who had asked for a test drive in a truck he was selling online.

Bosma was 32 years old and leaves behind a wife and young daughter. Those interested in contributing to a trust fund created to support them can make donations at any TD Trust to branch number 2047, account number 6332096 (source).

There has been an arrest in this case but the investigation is long from over - call the Hamilton police at 905-546-2100 if you have any information on the case.

Click here for a timeline of the Tim Bosma case, for those unaware.

Congrats on your new premier BC, Liberal Christy Clark. Clark and the Liberal Party won a majority government, winning 50 of 85 seats. 

The only surviving Canadian team in the 2013 Playoffs

Ottawa takes on Pittsburgh starting tomorrow night!

BC’ers - a provincial election is coming up on May 14, 2013. Whatever your persuasion, make yourself heard loud and clear. This election, when someone asks, “Are You a Voter?” Say YES!

How to Vote in BC Provincial Elections

How to Convince a Young BC’er to Vote

from Apathy is Boring.

Tim Hortons introduced a summer-version of Roll Up the Rim, called Chill to Win, where you enter a code found on the side of your Iced Capp online to win prizes.

The prizes aren’t aren’t as awesome as for Roll Up, but still, more incentive to buy yourself an Iced Capp.