Five stories in the news today, Aug. 4

Five stories in the news today from The Canadian Press:

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AUTHOR, NATIONALIST MEL HURTIG DIES AT 84

Mel Hurtig, the ardent nationalist behind “The Canadian Encyclopedia,” died of pneumonia Wednesday in a Vancouver hospital. He was 84. Hurtig was also known as a co-founder of the Council of Canadians, a group dedicated to preserving the country’s sovereignty. Hurtig also led the National Party of Canada, formed in 1992 to battle foreign ownership of Canadian business and industry and ran unsuccessfully for the federal Liberals in 1972.

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NO FIGHTER JET REQUIREMENT FOR NATO: REPORT

A Defence Department report says Canada is not required to provide a certain number of fighter jets to NATO, raising fresh questions about the Liberal government’s rush to buy a new warplane. The government has repeatedly stated the military does not have enough CF-18 fighter jets to both defend North America and fulfil its obligations to NATO, which is why a new airplane is needed sooner rather than later.

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MP TOOTOO ADMITS TO ‘CONSENSUAL RELATIONSHIP’

Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo, who cited an alcohol problem for leaving the Liberal caucus and cabinet earlier this year, has apologized for what he called a “consensual but inappropriate” relationship with an unidentified person. Tootoo, who declared his return to politics late last month after a two-month hiatus to seek treatment for addiction, has been at the centre of persistent rumours that he had been involved with a staff member.

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WATER TESTS DONE AFTER SASKATCHEWAN OIL SPILL

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says more tests are needed before drinking water intakes can be reopened after an oil spill on the North Saskatchewan River, despite good preliminary results. A report released Wednesday by Husky Energy said more than 900 water samples taken at about 60 locations from the spill site near Maidstone to Prince Albert, about 385 kilometres downstream, have met Canadian drinking water standards since July 24.

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MONEY TALK TABOO FOR MANY COUPLES: POLL

A new CIBC survey suggests nearly all couples believe it’s important to have a serious joint discussion about finances before getting hitched or moving in together — but only about a third will actually do so. The study found that 35 per cent of committed partners who plan to marry or live common law within the next two years say they’ve talked about money in detail, with 40 per cent saying they’ve only discussed how to manage finances together as a couple “briefly.”

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— Canadian companies reporting earnings today include Quebecor, SNC-Lavalin Group, BCE and Canadian Tire Corp.

— The case against 80-year-old Melissa Shepard, dubbed the “Internet Black Widow,” returns to court in Halifax.