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Over the month of December, The Globe and Mail invited its readers to share their predictions for 2013. Who will be a newsmaker in the year to come? Which issues will dominate the headlines?

Here's a selection of their predictions, and we invite you to share your own.

Places to watch in 2013 

Newfoundland and Labrador: "In 2013 I predict there will be a heated provincial Liberal leadership race, multiple retirements from the government caucus after Muskrat Falls gets approved, multiple strikes (including a full public-sector strike) and a set of municipal elections that might see NDP leadership at the city level."
Craig Ennis, St. John's, Nfld.

Croatia: "It will proudly join the EU in July."
Alain Londes, Thornhill, Ont.

Greece: "It will exit the EU, while Spain and Italy remain on life support"
Geoff Atkins, Vancouver

Israel: "Will attack Iran - but who knows the outcome?"
David Crane, Kingston, Ont.

Turkey: "Will show its military strength in the region to ensure its own stability and will continue to rise as an economic power, fuelling more Islamophobia in Europe."
Sara Sattar, Ottawa

Egypt: "Its current Islamist President Morsi will be worth following in 2013. As the Arab world's most populous country is on the cusp of becoming a theocracy, religious minorities and liberals (saying nothing about the military) will counter to prevent the state from imposing Sharia law."
Kyle Matthews, Montreal

Syria: "I cannot envision any scenario where this ends well, for the Syrian people or the region as a whole. If Assad flees, there will be chaos and revenge. If he is defeated in brutal last stand, there will be chaos and revenge. It will spill over into Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Kurdistan. The international community is bereft of ideas and cannot decide if it is more afraid of the consequences of action or inaction. There will likely be debate about the feasibility of partition - a whole other unopened can of worms. It seems WWI will never end."
Michael Booth, Toronto

People to watch in 2013 

The Royal Baby: "2013 brings the pregnancy, the birth, the baby."
Brenda Pullen, Oakville, Ont.

Mark Horvath: "Last night, millions of Americans slept on park benches, under makeshift coverings, and in places that you and I wouldn't head to in a horror movie. If we're lucky, Mark Horvath and his Twitter account might just change that."
Jennifer Woltemade, Ottawa

Bashar Al-Assad: "He will fall, but the resulting chaos will not benefit anyone but perhaps Al Qaeda and Iran."
Rob Katzer, Victoria

Justin Trudeau: Readers differed on what's in store for the Liberal leader hopeful in 2013. Gene Plouffe of Toronto predicts that he will succeed in his bid, "and will surprise many pundits who have used his age, his supposed inexperience, etc. to try to belittle him." Alternatively, Carol A. Verdurmen of Oakville, Ont. thinks he'll make waves next year for the wrong reasons. " With Justin Trudeau at the helm, the Liberals' current status in a little corner of Parliament will look good in retrospect," she writes.

Rob Ford: Bill Hozy of Toronto doesn't see the Toronto mayor driving his SUV away from City Hall anytime soon - he predicts the beleaguered Ford will remain as mayor through 2013.

Trends to watch in 2013

 

Aboriginal issues: "The "Idle No More" movement that took place across the country and around the world will be front and centre. I feel our aboriginal fellow citizens will continue to fight and other Canadians will add to the pressure for the federal and provincial governments to pay more attention to the issues that need addressing. 2013 is the year for Canadians to begin turning up the heat and asserting themselves towards government in Canada. Canadians are in full understanding of our situation socially and economically – when push comes to shove, Canadians are going to start pushing and shoving on issues!"
Brent Kelso, Thunder Bay, Ont.

Gun control in the U.S.: "Will be the hottest topic in 2013 because of the recent horrific [Newtown shooting]."
Kathryn Phillips, Toronto

Proportional representation: "Co-operation on Canada's left political parties to unseat Harper, and bring in electoral reform for Proportional Representation. We need government comprised of MPs in the same percentage as voter support for each party, so House of Commons reflects the society it governs."
David Weber, Kitchener, Ont.

Gay marriage: "With the U.S. Supreme Court having a daunting task ahead of them, there is no doubt that the big topic of 2013 will be legalizing gay marriage in the United States on a national level. Higher approval polls and more individual States legalizing gay marriage seem to be creating a critical mass for the inevitable."
Josh McConnell, Toronto

Medical tourism: "Patients travelling between the United States and Canada for health care increases. More Americans seek inexpensive care in Canada and more Canadians seek timely care in the United States."
David Zitner, Halifax

The company to watch in 2013 

Apple: Readers agree that Apple will continue to be a major newsmaker next year, but differ on exactly why it'll be in the headlines. Erick Mark of Toronto thinks Apple is bound for a "small but steady decline in business as innovation continues to lack after Steve Jobs".  But Mel Blitzer of Calgary sees Apple starting a whole other revolution in 2013 with the unveiling of "a revolutionary TV (in design since before Steve Jobs passing) that will be stunning in clarity and connectivity to the net".

A Toronto intersection to watch  

Don Valley Parkway and Eglinton: "Expected to open in 2013 is the Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili Centre in Toronto. The project represents what I would term the first 'international' museum in the country. The museum will house the largest collection of Islamic artifacts in all of North America, and will represent a marker for Canadian pluralism on the International stage. This will be an event for which all Canadians should be proud."
Al-Karim Walli, Calgary

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