Alberta at Noon

Remember the early days of the pandemic? Gas in Edmonton was 77 cents a litre. Calgary was 79. Today it's almost twice the price. What does the rising cost of driving a car mean to you and what do you think can be done about it? Joining us for the hour is Rory Johnston, analyst who writes the newsletter Commodity Context and managing director and market economist at Price Street. Patrick De Haan, gas price tracker for Gas Buddy. also joins us.

No matter how much bad news there is around you or how cold it is outside. This is an exciting time of year for gardeners. Just looking at a seed catalogue can make you smile. All those photos of blooms and veggies to imagine in your own yard. You may even already have those seeds started in your house or you have a houseplant that's struggling. We want r to hear all about what you are growing! This hour, we are joined by certified professional horticulturist Jim Hole.

Edmonton and Calgary are both taking steps to try to help people feel safer using transit. Calgary is bringing in more security guards and peace officers. Edmonton is adding more community outreach teams. What do you think? Are these steps necessary? What do you see when you see on your ride, or while you wait? This hour we speak with Erin Rutherford, Councilor for Ward Anirniq, and Gian-Carlo Carra, Councilor for Ward 9 and head of Infrastructure and Planning committee.

Canada has sent weapons to Ukraine and  joined an international effort to squeeze Russia financially. But still, the Russian invasion continues. What more should the west do to help Ukraine?

Tomorrow masks will no longer be required if you want to eat out or go to the mall, except in Edmonton which has kept its mask bylaw. Gathering limits are also being removed. So today we ask, are you ok with this? We have multiple guests joining us. Chris Hewitt owns Dickens Pub, a live music venue in Calgary. Puneeta McBryan is the Executive Director of Downtown Edmonton. Dr. Lynora Saxinger is an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Alberta.

This is a shortened edition of Alberta at Noon, as we continue our coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine after the national radio special featuring Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's press conference.

Western countries have announced more sanctions in response to Russia invading Ukraine. Today we're asking, is this the response you are hoping for? Rob Huebert is a Research Fellow with the Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary and joins us.

Heart disease is something many women live with, undiagnosed. Today, a heart health researcher helps us understand why. Dr. Sandi Dumanski is a heart health researcher at the Cumming School of Medicine and the Libin Cardiovascular Institute at the University of Calgary. She's also a kidney specialist treating patients who have a higher risk of developing heart disease. She joins us for the hour.

Under this emergencies act - which has never been used - the government has expansive powers to arrest protest organizers and freeze bank accounts. What do you think? Is the Emergencies Act necessary now? Has it ever been necessary to deal with the protest in Ottawa? We are joined by Nomi Claire Lazar and Patrick Leblond, two professors from the University of Ottawa, as well as CBC's John Paul Tasker at the top of the hour.

Today on the show we're talking about perhaps the ultimate comfort food... dumplings! We're joined for the hour by two food writers: Carmen Cheng and Phil Wilson.

The Winter Olympics in Beijing are down to their final few days, and fewer people have been watching the games on television this year. Today on the show we'd like to hear: Are you watching the Olympics?

We have two guests with us for the hour. The CBC's Meg Roberts is part of the team covering the games in Beijing. And Bruce Kidd is a former Olympian, the author of "A Runner's Journey", and Professor Emeritus of Sport and Public Policy at the University of Toronto where he's now the Ombudsperson.