PrimeTime Politics with Michael Serapio
Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC)
PrimeTime Politics is a comprehensive round-up of the day in Canadian politics, from breaking stories to developments on longstanding issues. Key moments, feature interviews, panels, in-depth analysis and more. It’s the day in half an hour.
Michael Serapio is a renowned television anchor and reporter, whose broadcasting career has spanned more than two decades of covering some of the most challenging news stories in real time. In addition to being the face of CPAC's live programming, he hosts the channel's nightly political round-up, PrimeTime Politics, and is the first Filipino-Canadian male to anchor a national newscast in Canada. In 2023, Michael was recognized with a Canadian Screen Award for his work anchoring a breaking news special on the Ottawa occupation in February 2022.
Prior to joining CPAC in 2022, Michael spent 12 years as a host and anchor with CBC News Network. Before that, he was a reporter with CTV British Columbia and CityNews Toronto.
Michael Serapio is a renowned television anchor and reporter, whose broadcasting career has spanned more than two decades of covering some of the most challenging news stories in real time. In addition to being the face of CPAC's live programming, he hosts the channel's nightly political round-up, PrimeTime Politics, and is the first Filipino-Canadian male to anchor a national newscast in Canada. In 2023, Michael was recognized with a Canadian Screen Award for his work anchoring a breaking news special on the Ottawa occupation in February 2022.
Prior to joining CPAC in 2022, Michael spent 12 years as a host and anchor with CBC News Network. Before that, he was a reporter with CTV British Columbia and CityNews Toronto.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 13, 2025 • 30min
A Christmas Floor-Crossing for Carney – December 12, 2025
The bureau chiefs panel Robert Fife (Globe and Mail), Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Joël-Denis Bellavance (LaPresse) talk about Michael Ma's floor crossing to the Liberals and what it means for Pierre Poilievre's leadership when he faces a leadership review at the end of the six week holiday break from parliament.
Dec 12, 2025 • 30min
What the U.S. Ambassador Wants – December 11, 2025
As Parliament goes into its winter break, the party strategists' panel, Susan Smith, Cole Hogan and George Soule looks back at Carney's performance over the year and looks ahead to Pierre Poilievre's upcoming leadership review, and discusses whether both are on the right paths.
U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra sits down for a year-end interview focused on the deterioration of Canada-U.S. trade talks earlier this fall, what the United States wants out of a trade deal with Canada and how talks can get started again.
Dec 11, 2025 • 28min
The Government Goes After Stellantis – December 10, 2025
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly discusses her government's attempt to recoup money given to Stellantis after the automaker canceled a vehicle line in Brampton, costing thousands of jobs.
Former Canadian ambassador to the UN Louise Blais talks about the challenges ahead for Canada's next ambassador to the U.S. and reflects on Kirsten Hillman's tenure in the role.
The International Monetary Fund's Mission Chief to Canada Ashvin Ahuja discusses the IMF's analysis of Canada's economic policies and outlook.
Dec 10, 2025 • 30min
Kirsten Hillman Resigns as Ambassador to the U.S. - December 9, 2025
Canada's former UN ambassador Bob Rae discusses Kirsten Hillman's resigation as Canada's ambassador to the United States and the impact she has left on the relationship.
Journalists Alex Ballingall (Toronto Star) and Stephanie Taylor (National Post) talk about the defeat of the Conservative motion supporting an oil pipeline from Alberta to the B.C. coast and what it means for the Liberals who voted against it.
Bloc Québécois Yves-François Blanchet discusses his opposition to the Alberta-Ottawa MOU and how long he thinks this minority government can last.
Dec 9, 2025 • 27min
A Major U.S. Pivot on Foreign Policy – December 8, 2025
Former UN ambassador Bob Rae comments on U.S. foreign policy shifts in regards to Europe and how Canada should move forward with its relationship with the U.S.
Climate scientists Catherine Abreu and Simon Donner discuss their respective decisions to leave the government's Net-Zero Advisory Body after Ottawa's MOU with Alberta.
Former Métis National Council president Cassidy Caron talks about the significance of the return of artifacts held in the Vatican back to Indigenous peoples in Canada and what comes next in their fight to repatriate historical items.
Dec 6, 2025 • 30min
CUSMA and the World Cup – December 5, 2025
The bureau chiefs panel, Robert Fife (Globe and Mail), Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Joël-Denis Bellavance (La Presse) discuss Mark Carney's brief visit to Washington for the World Cup as Donald Trump threatens the CUSMA deal and they talk about Ottawa's strategy around consultation with First Nations after signing the MOU with Alberta.
Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery talks about his province's plan to not comply with the federal gun buy-back program set to be rolled-out across the country.
Dec 5, 2025 • 29min
Who Supports a Pipeline? – December 4, 2025
The strategists panel, Susan Smith, Cole Hogan and George Soule discuss the challenges the government faces in getting First Nations' support for a pipeline to the Pacific coast and debate how realistic the proposal really is.
Polls analysts Éric Grenier (The Writ) and Philippe Fournier (338 Canada) discuss what the polls say about support for the Alberta-Ottawa MOU across the country.
Dec 4, 2025 • 29min
Marc Miller Attracts Controversy in Early Days as Minister – December 3, 2025
Former Toronto mayor and Elbows up for Climate co-chair David Miller outlines his issues with the Alberta-Ottawa MOU and details the types of projects he'd like to see pursued.
Political strategists Martine St-Victor and Jonathan Kalles talk about the comments on the decline of the French language by Minister Marc Miller and the impact of Steven Guilbeault's resignation from cabinet on the PM's popularity in Quebec.
Dec 3, 2025 • 29min
The Prime Minister Faces the AFN – December 2, 2025
Sara Mainville, lawyer and managing partner at JFK Law talks about the Prime Minister's speech to the AFN assembly and whether any concerns over consultations were eased by his remarks.
Former RCMP deputy-commissioner Pierre-Yves Bourduas talks about the logistical challenge that the government faces in enforcing its gun buy-back program as Alberta announces it will not participate.
United Steelworkers Canada President Marty Warren discusses his chat with Industry Minister Melanie Joly today and what supports his union would like to see from Ottawa.
Dec 2, 2025 • 28min
Pipeline Shuffle – December 1, 2025
B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix gives his assessment of Alberta's pipeline proposal and how his province might work with Alberta in other ways to get its energy products to Asian markets.
Calgary-based political science professor Lori Williams and Edmonton-based freelance columnist Graham Thomson discuss what went down at Alberta's United Conservative Party convention over the weekend and how much the MOU helps Premier Danielle Smith politically.
Abacus Data CEO David Coletto provides some insight into how Canadians are feeling about the Alberta-Ottawa MOU.
