alberta@noon from CBC Radio (Highlights)

Retired Supreme Court Justice John Major has released his independent report into MLA pay, and has a number of recommendations. John Soroski, a political scientist at MacEwan University in Edmonton, takes calls from listeners. Sport Canada wants sports groups to develop programs that focus on enjoyment and skill, rather than competition. Nick Holt is a Physical Education and Recreation professor at the University of Alberta.

A coalition of First Nations from Northern B.C stops in Edmonton on its "Freedom Train" journey from B.C to Toronto, protesting the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline project. Chief Jackie Thomas with the Saik'uz First Nation is part of the Yinka Dena Alliance. Calgary food and cooking columnist Cinda Chavich tells us how we can celebrate Cinco de Mayo here in Alberta. Rick Lang, Manager of Operations for Driver Education for the Alberta Motor Association, has tips on avoiding road rage, and takes calls from listeners.

It's orientation week for the province's new MLA's at the Alberta legislature. The CBC's John Archer has the details. Space researchers from all over the world are coming to Banff this week to share information on the Herschel Space Observatory. The Canadian space agency created technology called SPIRE, a key instrument on the telescope. It was co-designed by a team from the University of Lethbridge, led by astrophysics professor Dr. David Naylor. He's a director with the Institute for Space Imaging Science at the U of L, which is hosting this week's conference. Richard Wilkinson, co-author of "The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone" takes calls from listeners about the growing gap between rich and the poor, and the impact on society.

More people are calling on the province to move quickly with plans to twin Highway 63, linking Edmonton to Fort McMurray, following last Friday's crash which killed seven people. We hear from Mike Allen, Tory MLA-elect for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo. A conference at the University of Calgary is looking at the future of aboriginal languages in Canada. Tom Ricento is chair of the conference. Phil Edmonston, author of the car/truck Lemon-Aid guides, takes questions from listeners

Edmonton ward 3 Councillor Dave Loken would prefer that the Elements Music Festival rave was not going ahead. Calgary Herald entertainment reporter Heath McCoy reports, enthusiastically, on Comicon, the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo. Horticulturist Donna Balzer takes calls on gardening.

We hear reaction to the provincial election from the Alberta Medical Association and the Alberta Teacher's Association. Alberta Health Services hosts an on-line twitter chat about organ and tissue donations. Contractor Don James takes listener calls about spring renovations.

Medical students, including Danielle Carpentier, under pediatric mentor, Dr. Tehseen Lada, are helping to teach children how to read food labels in the "Apple a Day" program, to combat childhood obesity. Senior producer Tracy Johnson of the CBC Business Unit looks at the decision to cancel the 1.4 billion dollar Project Pioneer Carbon Capture and Storage project. Bob Henderson of Wild Horses of Alberta Society is urging the government to stop issuing permits to cull wild horses. The government says the feral horses are causing environmental damage and must be controlled. Naturopath Natasha Turner takes calls on her new book, The Carb Sensitivity Program.

Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt takes calls, tweets and emails from listeners regarding Monday night's provincial election.

Travis Vader has been charged with the first-degree murder of missing St. Albert couple, Lyle and Marie McCann. Their son, Bret McCann,says he's relieved. Business columnist Tracy Johnson looks at the impact of low natural gas prices. We check out polling stations in Calgary and Edmonton with CBC reporters Lisa Robinson and Andrea Huncar. Financial planner Kevin Cork has tax tips and takes calls from listeners as the income tax deadline approaches.

The leader of the Wildrose Party, Danielle Smith, takes listeners calls in the final segment of call-ins with the leaders of Alberta's main political parties. Horticulturist and author Jim Hole, of Hole's Greenhouses in St. Albert, answers questions about gardening in the first of the season's gardening phone-ins.

Donna McElligott, the host of Alberta at Noon, hosts an election forum in Edmonton with the leaders of the four main parties.

University of Lethbridge political scientist Peter McCormick looks at the Alberta senate race. Gail Bell of Parenting Power says there are plenty of ways to help and support our children for Provincial Achievement Tests. Adria Vasil, author of Ecoholic Body, takes listeners calls.

Simon Dyer, policy director of the Pembina Institute, looks at Ottawa's new rules for environmental reviews of major projects. Food and cooking columnist Cinda Chavich checks out the new products that will soon be on store shelves from the big food companies. And Bruce Cameron, president of Return on Insight research and communications firm, takes calls on the latest developments in the Alberta election campaign.

Political scientist Lori Williams of Mount Royal University comments on the latest developments in the Alberta election campaign. Vanessa Neufeld is a photographer and storm-chaser headed toward tornado alley in the American mid-west. Philosopher and award-winning author John Ralston Saul takes listeners calls the role of citizens in a democracy.

Political analyst Paul Mcloughlin, publisher of Alberta Scan, takes listeners calls on the leaders debate. Calgary teacher Andy Amour is helping to organize a memorial for the genocide in Rwanda. Sports journalists Vicki Hall of the Calgary Herald and Min Dhariwal of CBC talk hockey.