The federal government’s system of tax benefits and deductions reinforces and even worsens gender inequality, with men taking 62 cents of every dollar the government spends on tax breaks, a new study argues.

But the study shows that much of the inequity is a reflection of the broader gender inequities in society — the reality, for instance, that men continue to dominate the highest-paying jobs, or that women live longer.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives looked at “tax expenditures” — the various deductions that reduce payers’ tax burdens and the benefits the government pays out to some tax-filers. There are 64 of these tax expenditures, and 45 of them had sufficient data to carry out a gender analysis, the CCPA report found.

Of those 45 expenditures, only nine of them paid out more to women than men.

The analysis even found that the popular retirement vehicles known as RRSPs may actually be a much worse deal for many women than men.

Watch: How long will it take to close the gender wage gap? Story continues below.

CCPA chief economist David Macdonald ran a gender-based analysis on Canada’s system of tax expenditures — something he said the governing Liberals largely haven’t done, despite a vow to look at policy through a gender lens.

“The tax system doesn’t get nearly the attention that program spending does,” Macdonald told HuffPost Canada.

In many cases, the disparity comes from the fact that men earn more than women, and — as earlier research from the CCPA showed — Canada’s tax breaks disproportionately benefit higher earners.

For instance, the government forgoes $755 million in revenue for the employee stock option deduction, and 77 per cent of that goes to men. Stock options are most commonly paid to upper management, so this deduction particularly helps “executives of big companies who are … dramatically more likely to be men,” Macdonald said.

Among the 100 most influential companies on the Toronto Stock Exchange, only one was headed by a woman in 2018, according to a survey from Bloomberg.

Macdonald said Canada’s tax system would “likely” be more equitable to women if it wasn’t so skewed towards tax relief for higher earners.

A raw deal on retirement plans?

Some of the ways in which the system disadvantages women may be surprising. For instance, Macdonald’s research found that registered retirements savings plans (RRSPs) may not be saving women much money on their taxes.

Men get $2.6 billion more in savings from RRSP contributions than they pay in taxes on RRSP withdrawals every year, the study found. But women pay $315 million more in taxes on RRSP withdrawals than they receive in savings from RRSP contributions.

Macdonald says there are two things going on here. One is that lower-earning women may find themselves earning a higher income in retirement, meaning the taxes on their RRSP withdrawals would be larger than the tax savings on the original contributions. The same would be true for lower-earning men.

But in some cases it’s women — who earned less than their male partners — drawing from a spousal RRSP. As women live longer than men, they will often end up paying taxes on income their male partner earned.

Macdonald found that only one tax break is explicitly targeted towards one gender: The Canada Child Benefit, which is paid out to the mother, or to just one person in a same-sex couple. Because of that — and because women are much more likely than men to be single parents — 97 per cent of the $22.6-billion child benefit is paid out to women.

The CCPA report doesn’t lay out any particular policy proposals. Macdonald described the work as a springboard for further gender-based research on Canadian taxes, and a guidepost for policymakers looking to make the tax system more equitable.

“Women tend to live longer, they work more in part-time jobs than men, they tend to be caregivers. You have tax breaks that overlap, or not, on those issues. There’s a gender dimension to it.”

The lead producer on Anthem has revealed a new social area that has been implemented following player feedback.

The new Launch Bay is an area where players can “hang out… use the forge, reload and grab a new contract,” according to a tweet from BioWare’s Michael Gamble.

He went on to explain that once a mission is wrapped up, players can choose to go to the NPC-centric Fort Tarsis. In regards to implementing the Launch Bay using player feedback, Gamble added, “We figured that we could show you BEFORE launch how we plan continue to be AFTER launch.”

Anthem is set to launch on  PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on February 22. Players can get a taste of the game in the demo next weekend, which is available  from Friday, February 1, 9am PT – Sunday February 3, 6pm PT.

There’s a VIP demo this weekend for players who pre-ordered, or are members of EA or Origin Access. You can log in from Friday, January 25, 9am PT – Sunday, January 27, 6pm PT.

You can read more about the difference between the demo and main game right here, and be sure to join us for the Anthem VIP demo world premiere live.

Shabana is a freelance writer who enjoys JRPGs, wine, and not finishing games. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The 2016 NFCA Convention kicks off on Wednesday Dec. 7 and runs through Saturday, Dec. 10 at the New Orleans Marriott.  Over the course of four days, attendees have a wide array of opportunities to educate themselves, network, conduct business, be recognized for their achievements, discover innovative products and have fun.

To get those more acquainted with the on-going proceedings, this feature takes a look at the first day of activities. But before we dive into things, the most important item to point out is registration. Be sure to pick up your credential, because without your convention badge, you will be unable to attend all the great sessions offered in New Orleans.

For those arriving on Tuesday, Dec. 6 and who want to beat the crowd, a four-hour window (Noon-4:00 p.m.) is available to pick up your credentials. The registration booth will be open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 and Thursday, Dec. 8. On Friday, Dec. 9 and Saturday, Dec. 10, the booth opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at noon and 10 a.m., respectively.

In addition to picking up your credentials (for those who preregistered), members can also register on-site, renew their memberships and sign up for other convention related items.

2016 NFCA CONVENTION WEBSITE | REGISTER HERE | SPEAKER LINEUP | SCHEDULE | EXHIBITORS

Conducting Business
After picking up your credential, head over to your committee meetings being held at 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., respectively. It is a chance to discuss changes and have healthy conversations about the future of the sport in an intimate setting with your peers. Later in the evening, the NCAA Division I, II and III Head Coaches committees meet to discuss the important issues leading in to their respective business meetings on Thursday.

Educational Opportunities
There are many opportunities to gain valuable knowledge from our preconvention seminars to our keynote speaker on the first day. Held simultaneously from 12-4 p.m. on Dec. 7, the seminars feature NFCA Hall of Famer Cindy Bristow and the Assistant Coach University. Bristow will conduct a pitching seminar, while the ACU is designed to help assistant coaches become a valuable member of their team’s coaching staff and provide them with the skills to thrive under their head coach’s leadership.

Also on the docket is a Rightview Pro Training session (9:30-11:30 a.m.) and a New Convention Attendee Orientation (3-4:00 p.m.), the latter is conducted by NFCA President Rhonda Revelle.

Education and Achievements
The NFCA’s “First Pitch” Opening Welcome and Keynote session really gets the ball rolling. NFCA Executive Director Carol Bruggeman, Revelle, NPF Commissioner Cheri Kempf, ASA/USA Softball Executive Director Craig Cress, President of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Softball Executive Committee Dale McMann and Jenny Dalton Hill of USA Baseball will welcome everyone and present about the state of their organizations. Additionally, Bruggeman will recognize  Mary Nutter Scholarship and Diversity Convention Grant recipients along with our top academic programs sponsored by Easton and the StrikeOut Cancer fundraisers.

Capping off the opening welcome will be keynote speaker Brett Ledbetter. Ledbetter, a renowned author and motivational speaker, will present his “What Drives Winning” philosophy to the membership.

Fun
Following the “First Pitch”, USSSA is hosting the first of two evening social events with its Leadoff reception from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Immediately following is the Wilson Sporting Good’s reception running from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Canada can raise its rainbow flag a little higher today. The home of one of North America’s largest Pride celebrations has been ranked among the most LGBTQ+-friendly travel destinations in the world.

According to a new list published by gay holiday guide Spartacus, Canada, Portugal and Sweden share the title of most LGBTQ+-friendly travel destinations.

In its Gay Travel Guide 2019, Portugal leapfrogged its way from 27th position to the top spot, thanks to initiatives in the country against hate crimes and law improvements for the protection of trans and intersex people, says Spartacus.

Another rising star on the ranking this year is India, which rose from 104th to 57th spot after decriminalizing homosexuality. Trinidad and Tobago and Angola also decriminalized homosexuality last year.

The index also revealed, however, that the social and political climates for the LGBTQ+ community in countries like Brazil, Germany and the US have worsened due to right-wing conservative governments and an increase in homophobic and transphobic violence.

At the other end of the spectrum, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Somalia and Chechnya have been deemed the most dangerous countries for LGBT travellers.

1. Canada, Portugal, Sweden

2. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Reunion Island, Spain, United Kingdom

3. France, Gibraltar, Greenland, Ireland, Switzerland, Uruguay

4. Colombia, French Polynesia, Germany, Israel, New Caledonia

5. Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Slovenia, South Africa

6. Czech Republic, Estonia, Guam, Puerto Rico

7. Liechtenstein, Slovakia

8. Bolivia, Ecuador, Italy

9. Mozambique, Nepal, Taiwan

10. Bermuda, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Macau, Seychelles, Thailand, US

The Spartacus Gay Travel Index is based on 14 criteria in three categories:

1) Civil rights to assess whether gays and lesbians are allowed to marry, whether anti-discrimination laws exist or whether the age of consent is the same for heterosexual and homosexual couples.

2) Discrimination, which includes travel restrictions for HIV-positive persons and the prohibition of Pride parades and other demonstrations.

3) Threats individuals via persecution, imprisonment or death penalty.

The Gay Travel Index uses research from human rights organization Human Rights Watch, the UN Free & Equal campaign, and information about human rights abuses against members of the LGBTQ+ community collected throughout the past year.

— With files from Charmaine Noronha in Toronto.

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Looking to get a TV for your gaming? Find the best 4K TVs for Gaming here.

Out Now: Get Kingdom Hearts 3 on PS4 and Xbox One

Relive your childhood memories with the third edition of Kingdom Hearts, featuring the new and improved recreations of Disney worlds. This game was described as “a fulfilling evolution and resolution of the franchise that shows it’s still full of heart” on IGN review, while scoring 8.7/10. It is now available on PS4 and Xbox One. See below for the cheapest way to get a physical and digital copies on all platforms.

• Read IGN review (8.7/10)

Kingdom Hearts 3 (PS4/ Xbox One) for £34.99 via TopCashback

For PS4 and Xbox One platforms the cheapest place to preorder Resident Evil 2 is GAME via TopCashback, as the standard copies currently sell at around £49.99 at many online stores, such as Amazon. Purchase your copy now for £34.99 by following the instructions below.

How does it work?

• 100% cashback up to £15 at GAME, means that TopCashback will refund 100% cashback up to £15 spends at GAME.
• E.g. spend £49.99 on ‘Kingdom Hearts 3’ or and get £15 cashback. Purchases over £15 will receive a maximum of £15 cashback.
• The 100% cashback up to £15 at GAME offer end date is 25/02/2018 23:59.

How to receive cashback?

• Sign up on the right of this page, once signed up you’ll be redirected to TopCashback’s offer page
• On the offer page you will see the offer information, hit the “Get Cashback” button, you’ll then be redirected to GAME’s website .
• Once on GAME’s website make your purchase as normal.
• After you’ve made your purchase, you should see your cashback pending in your account within 1 week. Once payable you can withdraw the cashback to your bank account.

Editor’s Notes: You have to be a new member to qualify for this offer.

Watch American Netflix in the UK: Get PureVPN for £2.25 per Month

This VPN deal makes PureVPN one of the cheapest VPN that is compatible with Netflix.  At just ~£2.25 per month (on top of your current Netflix monthly payments), you can get PureVPN and watch American Netflix content in the UK. Getting a VPN to watch American Netflix has never been more worth it after news that Netflix is once again raising its subscription prices in the United States. You can also use PureVPN to watch American Amazon Prime Video content, but you must have an Amazon Prime membership.

• For more information, and how to watch American Netflix in the UK, check out our very own guide on how to use a VPN for Netflix.
• Get PureVPN 1-year subscription deal – ~£2.25 per month or £27.00 billed annually (73% off)

50% off Audible Membership for 3 Months

Love books? With Audible it’s easy to tune into audiobooks wherever you are. By streaming or downloading books onto the free Audible app you will be able enjoy your favourite titles on the go, in your car or even at the gym. Try Audible membership at a discounted rate, which will save you 50% during the first three months, and you can opt-out any time.

• Discounted Membership (50% off, just £3.99/month for the first 3 months)

Alternative Deals

• Free Trial (30 day free trial, £7.99/month after) at Audible

Samsung 49-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV with HDR

A great price for this TV, as the current RRP price at elsewhere shows as £679.99. This LED TV is 49-inch with curved design, 4K ultra HD resolution and comes with a stand.

• Samsung UE49NU7100 49-inch Smart 4K Ultra HD TV with HDR at AO – was £399.00, now £389.00

SanDisk Ultra 128GB microSDXC Memory Card with SD Adapter under £17

Get plenty of storage for your camera or phone with SanDisk’s microSD card, where you can store of up to 128GB. Amazon offers savings of more than half price, so buy it quick while the promotion is live.

• SanDisk Ultra 128GB microSDXC Memory Card with SD adapter at Amazon – was £34.77, now £16.99

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (PS4) for £13

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is a critically acclaimed and highly anticipated sequel of Wolfenstein: The New Order. Get the cheapest copy at AO for just £13.

• Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (PS4) at AO – was £19.00, now £13.00

Save £40 off Google WiFi Whole Home System

Improve your Wi-Fi coverage at home or office with Google’s Wi-Fi system. It works with your modem and internet provider to strengthen your Wi-Fi signal to get good coverage in every room. Google Whole Home System comes with two Wi-Fi points and Google Wi-Fi app, which provides parental controls to block adult websites and even pause Wi-Fi access on your children’s devices during bedtime. It’s priced at £189 at Vodafone.

• Google WiFi Whole Home System at Vodafone – was £229.00, now £189.00

Apple iPad 9.7 Inch 32GB WiFi (2017) under £260

Great savings on the 5th generation iPad when purchasing through eBay. This iPad features 2048 x 1536 resolution, 9.7-inch screen and 32GB storage capacity. Buy it for £259.99 and save more than £69.

• Apple iPad 9.7-inch 32GB WiFi Cellular (2017) Silver at eBay – was £329.00, now £259.99

Grab the Best Broadband Deals in January

If you’re in the market for a broadband deal, whether it is superfast fibre, brodband and TV bundles or just standard broadband, then check the best offers using our sister site’s PCMag broadband comparison tool to get the best deal.

• Compare the best broadband deals using PCMag comparison site

Hand-Picked Deals:

• Sky – Broadband Unlimited 1: Average download speed of 11MB, 18 month contract, £70 M&S voucher – £18 per month for 18 months + £9.95 setup cost. Get this deal here.
• First Utility – First Broadband 2: Average download speed of 11MB, 18 month contract – £16.99 per month for 18 months + £0.00 setup cost. Get this deal here.
• Virgin Media: Mix TV Bundle: Average download speed of 108Mb, 12 month contract, £100 bill credit or an Amazon Echo Plus –  £37.00 per month for 12 months + £25.00 setup cost. Get this deal here.
• BT – Superfast Fibre + Weekend Calls: Average download speed of 50Mb, 18 month contract, £100 BT Reward Card – £29.99 per month for 18 months + £9.99 setup cost. Get this deal here.
• Vodafone Broadband – Superfast 1: Average download speed of 35Mb, 18 month contract – £20.00 per month for 18 months + £0.00 setup cost. Get this deal here.

Get up to 66% OFF – Norton™ Security Deluxe and FREE Norton Secure VPN. *

Connecting to public Wi-Fi is convenient but it may not always be secure. Sending data over the web when using Wi-Fi hotspots, like those at coffee shops or airports, could expose your most sensitive information like passwords, photos and credit card numbers to cybercriminals. Using a VPN encrypts the information you send and receive, while masking your IP address and location. It helps provide you with a more secure, private and worry-free connection so that you can enjoy greater protection, at home and on the go.

Get up to 66% OFF – Norton™ Security Deluxe and FREE Norton Secure VPN. * Easily protect up to 5 devices against viruses and ransomware PLUS encrypt the data you send and receive on public Wi-Fi on 1 device.

• Norton Security Standard (1 year, 1 PC, 1 Mac or 1 mobile device) at Symantec – was £49.99, now £24.99
• Norton Security Deluxe (1-year, 5 devices) at Symantec – was £69.99, now £29.99
• Norton Security Deluxe with VPN (1-year, 5 devices) at Symantec – was £89.99, now £29.99
• Norton Security Premium (1-year, 5 devices) at Symantec – was £79.99, now £39.99

*1st year introductory offer. See subscription details.

Nintendo 2DS XL with Three Games under £130

Grab the new Nintendo 2DS XL in white and orange design together with three games, including Animal Crossing Happy Home Designer, The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes and Bravely Second: End Layer, all for £129.99 at GAME.

• Nintendo 2DS XL White with three games at GAME – was £144.95, now £129.99

IGN Exclusive: MyHeritage DNA for £75.00 £59.00 with Free Delivery

Fiind out more about your personal genetics and your deeper ancestry using an easy-to-use DNA testing kit. According to MyHeritige DNA, their ancestry service kit can show the user exactly where their ancestors come from, and it’s all done using a simple mouth swab.

It makes an ideal Valentine Day present, especially when you can get 20% off your kit and save £9.95 on the delivery with our exclusive code IGNFREESHIP.

• MyHeritage DNA kit – was £75.00, now £59.00

Editor’s Notes:  The promotion expires on 4th February, 2019.

Save up to £400 off Dell PCs and Monitors

If you’re in the market for a new PC, monitor or both, you can enjoy saving up to £400 off selected Dell products at their clearance sale. This means you can bag yourself Inspiron 24 5000 All-in-One desktop computer for just under £900, Dell 24 Ultrathin Monitor: S2419HM for £210, and more for lower prices.

• See this deal here

Editor’s Notes: The promotion expires on 30th January, 2019.

Resident Evil 2 Deluxe Edition (PC) under £35

Snag up to £19 off Resident Evil 2 preorder for PC when you purchase it at SCDKeys with our exclusive discount code IGN4.

• Resident Evil 2/ Biohazard RE2 Deluxe Edition (PC) at SCDKey – was £54.27, now £37.08 or £34.29 w/ code IGN4

Resident Evil 2 Steelbook Edition (PS4/ Xbox One) under £47

In Resident Evil 2, the classic action, tense exploration, and puzzle solving gameplay that defined the Resident Evil series returns. This edition is exclusive to Amazon, as each copy come with a unique steelbook and Elza Walker costumer DLC.

• Resident Evil 2 Steelbook Edition (PS4) at Amazon – £46.99
• Resident Evil 2 Steelbook Edition (Xbox One) at Amazon – £46.99

Nintendo Switch Bundles for £289

Deals for Nintendo Switch console bundles are back on at Amazon, priced at just £289. The games on offer are Mario Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Just Dance 2019 and Sports Party. Hurry up and get yours while it’s still in stock.

• Nintendo Switch Neon with Mario Rabbids at Amazon – was £301.73, now £289.00
• Nintendo Switch Neon with Just Dance 2019 at Amazon – was £306.74, now £289.00
• Nintendo Switch Neon with Sports Party at Amazon – was £298.92, now £289.00

Get £25 Currys PC World Voucher with Honor View 20 Contract

Receive a complimentary Currys PC World gift card worth £25 when you purchase the Honor View 20 on a pay monthly contract. To claim the voucher you will have to enter your email here before purchasing the contract. The further information on how to get your reward will be communicated to you via email and your contact details will not be stored or used for any other purpose. After you have competed this step, chose a mobile contract deal that is right for you.

• Enter your email here for £25 Currys PC World voucher

Honor View 20 deals from Carphone Warehouse

• See Honor View 20 deals here

You can now get HONOR Watch Magic when you purchase Honor View 20 8GB RAM handset at Carphone Warehouse.

• Find out how to claim HONOR Watch Magic here

Editor’s Notes: This promotion expires on 19th February, 2019.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Gold Pass and general admission single-session tickets are now available for the World Cup of Softball XI and Border Battle VIII, which will be held July 4-10 in Oklahoma City, Okla. at ASA Hall of Fame Complex – OGE Energy Field – INTEGRIS Field. Highlighted by the top 10 teams in the world, tickets are on sale by phone at 800-654-8337 or online at ASAUSASoftball.com.

Click here to see the World Cup of Softball XI game schedule

Tickets are available for Gold Pass reserved seating for $20 and general admission seating is $10 a ticket.  Tickets for the event are for an entire day with fans having the opportunity to watch all games played on their selected dates.  The complete game schedule can be found at ASAUSASoftball.com.

With a record-12 countries slated to participate, the World Cup of Softball XI features No. 1 Japan, No. 2 USA, No. 3 Australia, No. 4 Canada, No. 6 China, No. 7 Netherlands, No. 8 New Zealand and No. 10 Czech Republic.  Also slated to compete are No. 11 Puerto Rico, No. 14 Mexico, No. 19 Venezuela, No. 23 Philippines and the USA Softball Women’s Elite Team. Rankings are calculated by the WBSC world ranking system, which tracks the performance of each country’s National Team over a three-year period.

All-session tickets, which are $175 for Gold Pass reserved seating and $60 for general admission seating, are also available online and can be purchased by phone at 800-654-8337 or online atASAUSASoftball.com.  Gold Pass all-session tickets include a USA Softball hat, World Cup XI program, a personalized name slide on the videoboard at OGE Energy Field, exclusive parking and advanced autograph sessions.  Fans that hold the Gold Pass All-Session ticket will have open seating in the Gold Pass section (click here to view seating chart).  Single session Gold Pass and general admission tickets will go on sale in early June.

In addition, the eighth-annual Men’s Border Battle Slow Pitch game will return to Oklahoma City for the first time since 2013 when the USA Men’s Slow Pitch National Team takes the field against Canada in Border Battle VIII on July 6. 

For updates on the USA Softball National Teams and the 2016 season visit ASAUSASoftball.com.

— Courtesy of ASA/USA Softball

Wonder Woman 3, which will arrive at some point in the future following 2020’s Wonder Woman 1984, is “definitely a contemporary story.”

Speaking to THR, Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins has said that she has an idea where Wonder Woman 3 could go and, unlike the first two films, she wants it to be set more in the present time as opposed to being a period piece.

“It’s definitely one of the things we talked about,” said Jenkins. “I’m not planning to put it in the past again, because where are you going to go? You have to go forward. It’s definitely a contemporary story. That’s all I can say. Where we put it and how that gets figured out, I haven’t totally nailed down.”

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League both take place in contemporary times, and future Wonder Woman films, if Jenkins has her way, will follow suit.

While Jenkins has a well thought out plan for Diana Prince’s future, she hasn’t been confirmed to be directing the third film.

“I have pretty clear plans for Wonder Woman 3,” Jenkins said to Vanity Fair. “Whether I [direct] it or not, I see how her arc should end in my incarnation of Wonder Woman. I have great passion for that.”

Wonder Woman 1984 is set to be released in theaters on June 5, 2020, and will be directed by Jenkins and scored by Hans Zimmer, who scored her theme for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

DC’s latest film, Aquaman, recently crossed the $1 billion dollar mark at the worldwide box office and, due to its success, has caused Warner Bros. to be “less focused” on the DC Shared Universe.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN who can’t wait to travel back to 1984 in 2020. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst.