Best of Alberta Primetime

Original Air Date: Monday, August 06, 2012

Home School Autonomy: Should it exist?
More than 5000 Alberta families home school their children. While the proposed Education Act failed to pass before today's election call, some home schoolers remain worried about their rights to teach religious beliefs.

At issue is reference in the legislation to the Alberta Human Rights Act, requiring all programs of study to reflect the diverse nature of our province.  Home schoolers say that could set a dangerous precedent.

What are home schooling families most concerned about? How far should parental rights go when educating their children?

Joining us for this discussion is Paul Van Den Bosch, a Home Educator and Member of the Board of Directors for the Alberta Home Education Association; Dale Gibson, a Constitutional Lawyer with expertise in education; and Diana Stinn, Co-Founder of the Phoenix Foundation, a private home school society.
 
Delayed Child-Bearing Risks
Alberta has the country's highest premature birth rate, in part because more people start families later - have we been misled?

One in five first time mothers is now over the age of 35. With delayed childbirth comes an increases risk of complications, and Alberta is now leading the country with the highest rate of preterm births.

Research shows putting off having children can cost the healthcare system money, and put mother and baby at risk of complications.  Experts agree more fertility education is needed, but there's an ethical line between informing and telling women when to have children.
What do women need to know when planning career, relationships, and family? What more can be done to help families and the healthcare system find balance between the right time, and the healthiest time to have a baby?

Joining us for this discussion is Dr. Laura Shanner, Bioethicist for the John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre at the University of Alberta; Dr. Suzanne Tough, Faculty of Medicine with the University of Calgary and Leader of the Alberta Innovates Preterm Birth and Healthy Outcomes Research Team; and Dr. Aisling Mahalingham, Obstetrics & Gynecology.
 
World Vision
Alberta Primetime sits down with the President of Canada’s largest humanitarian relief and development agency to talk about the Alberta Campaign for Children. In his 13 years as president of World Vision Canada, he has guided the organization into dramatic growth in its efforts to serve the world’s poor.
 
Detective Bryce Clarke
Edmonton has a very unique detective in its historical homicide department. On today's Alberta Trailblazer you'll meet acting Detective Bryce Clarke, a man who refuses to let his disability stop him from solving murders.