In the news today, Oct. 5

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ALLEGED KILLER McARTHUR TO APPEAR IN COURT

The man accused of killing eight men with ties to Toronto’s gay village is expected to appear in court today. Bruce McArthur, a 66-year-old self-employed landscaper, faces eight counts of first-degree murder. The remains of seven men were recovered from planters at a property where McArthur had worked in the months following his arrest last January. Police later found the remains of the eighth alleged victim in a ravine behind the same property in midtown Toronto. Lead detective Insp. Hank Idsinga has said he doesn’t believe there are any more alleged victims.

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KILLER PAUL BERNARDO SET FOR WEAPON TRIAL

Notorious killer and serial rapist Paul Bernardo is due in an eastern Ontario courtroom today for his trial on a weapons possession charge. Authorities accuse the maximum-security inmate of possessing a “shank” — consisting of a screw with a pen as a handle — in prison in February. The 54-year-old Bernardo had said he wanted to get the trial done before a parole hearing scheduled for later this month. His lawyer says his client is presumed innocent and will be acquitted. Also known as the “Scarborough rapist,” Bernardo was convicted in 1995 of the first-degree murders of two teen girls and numerous sexual assaults.

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LESS POTENT PRODUCTS TO JOIN LEGAL CANNABIS MARKET

As legalization of recreational marijuana looms, some industry insiders are predicting a hot niche in the market for lower potency products aimed a new users. A report by Deloitte forecasts that legalization on Oct. 17 will bring a new consumer into the market — one who is more risk averse, older and less likely to consume the drug as regularly as existing recreational users. It says almost half of current consumers say they would move to the legal market if there were more choices in terms of product potency.

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B.C. DAD SAYS SCHOOL WORKSHEET SHOWED BIAS

A man from Kamloops, B.C., says his son’s Grade 10 social studies assignment was biased against people with views on the right. Matt deFouw says the assignment asks students to place different statements on either end of the political spectrum. One question asks students to classify “a person who is a racist,” while another question asks them to classify “a person who believes that women should stay home and be mothers.” In both cases, the teacher gave the correct answer as the “right.” DeFouw’s complaint has prompted an investigation by the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS:

— Ontario Premier Doug Ford and United Conservative Leader Jason Kenney are scheduled to hold an anti-carbon tax rally.

— The trial continues today of British sailor Darren Smalley, who is accused of sexual assault in an alleged incident at a Halifax naval base in April 2015.

— Statistics Canada releases the labour force survey for September and international merchandise trade figures for August.

— The trial continues today for Jennifer and Jeromie Clark, who are charged with criminal negligence causing death and failure to provide the necessaries of life to their 14-month-old son.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

In the news today, Oct. 5

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