Five stories in the news today, Feb. 1

Five stories in the news today, Feb. 1, from The Canadian Press:

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GHOMESHI GOES ON TRIAL TODAY

Former CBC broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi goes on trial today facing four counts of sexual assault and one of overcoming resistance by choking. Ghomeshi has pleaded not guilty to the charges, acknowledging in a Facebook post in 2014 that he engaged in rough sex but insisting it was consensual. The CBC and Ghomeshi parted ways in October, 2014 and shortly there after a number of women came forward with accusations against Ghomeshi. The case generated a fire storm.

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TRIAL BEGINS FOR MEN ACCUSED IN SLAYING OF HAMILTON RESIDENT

Lawyers for two suspects accused in connection with the 2013 slaying of Tim Bosma say their clients intend to plead not guilty when their trial begins this morning. Dellen Millard of Toronto and Mark Smich face first degree murder charges. Bosma left his home to take two men for a test drive in his truck and was never seen alive again. His body was found burned beyond recognition about a week later. Bosma’s disappearance sparked an intense search that stretched across the Greater Toronto Area.

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BC’S CHIEF CORONER EXPECTS TO KNOW CAUSE OF DEADLY AVALANCHE

The B.C. Coroner’s Service is confident it will pinpoint the cause of Friday’s avalanche that killed five Alberta men out for a day of backcountry snowmobiling. Coroner Barb McLintock says investigators have “nearly always” been able to determine what triggered previous slides.She says in addition to determining the cause of the slide, the investigation will look at whether anything could have been done to avoid the deaths.

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POINT PERSON ON ELECTORAL REFORM WANTS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE FEELS THEIR VOTE COUNTS

Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef says the Liberals hope electoral reform will engage voters and improve turnout during elections. Monsef has been put in charge of delivering on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s promise to get rid of the current first-past-the-post electoral system. She says the Liberals want to make sure all Canadians feel their vote counts. Monsef says Trudeau has specifically asked her to explore all options, including various models of proportional representation.

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MANY MEMBERS OF MANITOBA FIRST NATIONS LIVE IN RAMSHACKLE DWELLINGS

Federal government documents say residents of Manitoba First Nations are living in some of the most run down homes in Canada and there is a $2-billion price tag for eliminating mould and chronic overcrowding in that province alone. But the federal government has set aside only around $150 million for all reserves across Canada this year. The report says 29 per cent of indigenous people live in poor housing, the highest level in the country.

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