The holidays are when families get together and – let’s all be honest here – that can produce some awkward moments at the best of times. But today in The Conversation Canada, we raise a situation that can be “beyond awkward.” Philosophy professor Carrie Jenkins of the University of British Columbia looks at how polyamorous people – those who have more than one lover, as Prof. Jenkins does – try to explain their situation to relatives who don’t approve of non-traditional families.

We also have two different stories about new and controversial policies by the Ontario government: a decision to make changes to child care regulations that research suggests could put more children in unsafe situations; Doug Ford’s reasons for cutting back on French-language services across the province are based on distorted facts and bad logic.

And finally…Environmental scholar Kyla Tienhaara of Queen’s University helps us understand why a U.S. coal company that bought five mines in Alberta is now expecting taxpayers to help bail it out of bankruptcy.

Regards,