Five stories in the news today, July 26

Five stories in the news today from The Canadian Press:

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OIL SPILL PLUME REACHES PRINCE ALBERT, SASK.

A government official says communities affected by an oil spill in the North Saskatchewan River can expect precautionary drinking water measures to be in place for weeks or even months. Two cities downstream from the Husky Energy pipeline leak near Maidstone, Sask., have had to stop drawing water from the river — North Battleford, which shut down its intake on Friday, and Prince Albert further downstream.

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BLACK LIVES MATTER IN TALKS BEFORE VANCOUVER PRIDE

Vancouver police say they will take part in the city’s annual Pride parade, despite a call from the activist group Black Lives Matter for the force to stay away. Ahead of Sunday’s march, Vancouver Police spokesman Sgt. Randy Fincham indicated the force had not been dissuaded from participating by an open letter asking for them to voluntarily withdraw.

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WIFE OF CANADIAN HELD IN TURKEY ALLOWED VISIT

Friends and relatives say a Calgary man being detained in Turkey has been allowed to see his wife, but the visit was too brief to glean much information about how Davud Hanci is faring and what might happen next. Hanci, an imam who provides spiritual counselling to prisoners, is reportedly being held on accusations he was involved in a July 15 coup attempt in Turkey.

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B.C. TO BRING IN 15 PER CENT FOREIGN BUYER TAX

Foreign buyers in Vancouver’s scorching real estate market will soon pay a new tax that Premier Christy Clark says is aimed at making housing more affordable for British Columbia’s middle-class buyers. Clark’s Liberals have signalled for months that change was coming for the real estate industry, tackling unscrupulous sales practises and offering tax incentives to first-time home buyers, but it was previously lukewarm to calls to act on foreign investment.

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ROB FORD’S NEPHEW WINS TORONTO BYELECTION

Ford Nation is still a driving political force in Toronto’s west end, where the nephew of the late Rob Ford has been elected to city council. Michael Ford easily defeated 11 other candidates Monday to become city councillor for Ward 2 in a byelection triggered when his uncle, the former Toronto mayor, died in March from a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— Companies reporting quarterly results today include Taseko Mines, Toromont Industries, Centerra Gold and WestJet.

— Judges, lawyers, legislators and others from around the globe gather in Halifax to discuss cyber-crime, privacy and collective security.

— Treasury Board president Scott Brison will make an investment announcement under ACOA’s Atlantic Innovation Fund.

— A court hearing will be held in Bancroft, Ont., on an assault charge against Toronto Star columnist Rosie DiManno.

— The second jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown, the 81st running of the Prince of Wales Stakes, will be held in Fort Erie, Ont.

— The Toronto International Film Festival will announce some of its upcoming titles.