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
May 3, 2025 • 28min
Mark Carney's Next Moves – May 2, 2025
The bureau chiefs panel, Robert Fife (Globe and Mail), Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Joël-Denis Bellavance (La Presse) discuss Mark Carney's first press conference since winning Monday's election and about Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre being offered a seat in Alberta to run in a by-election.
Polls analyst and author of The Writ Éric Grenier along with 338 Canada creator Philippe J. Fournier talk about the what the polls got right and where they missed in their predictions of Monday's general election.
May 2, 2025 • 29min
Danielle Smith Takes on the Carney Government – May 1, 2025
The strategists panel, Stevie O'Brien, Cole Hogan and George Soule talk about Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's fight with Ottawa as well as the next steps for the federal parties.
Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz discusses her government's court challenge to Ottawa's clean electricity regulations and it's relationship with the new Carney government.
May 1, 2025 • 28min
Next Steps for the Federal Parties – April 30, 2025
Conservative MP-elect Scott Aitchison (Parry Sound - Muskoka) talks about what's next for his party and its leader Pierre Poilievre after Monday's election loss.
NDP MP Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona) talks about the future of her party after it failed to win official party status on Monday night and is left with just seven MPs.
Former Jean Chretien chief of staff Eddie Goldenberg discusses how the Mark Carney minority government might function and work with other parties to pass legislation.
Apr 30, 2025 • 28min
Liberals Win Minority Government – April 29, 2025
Polls analyst and author of The Writ Éric Grenier breaks down the numbers following last night's election and how the Liberals ended up with a minority government win.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May talks about how the Green Party performed in the election and how she expects Parliament to function in a minority situation.
The bureau chiefs panel, Robert Fife (Globe and Mail), Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Joël-Denis Bellavance (LaPresse) with their takeaways from election night and what the future holds in Parliament.
Apr 26, 2025 • 27min
Closing Arguments – April 25, 2025
Pollster and author of the Writ Éric Grenier breaks down his latest numbers heading into the final weekend of the campaign.
The bureau chiefs panel, Bob Fife (Globe and Mail) Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Joël-Denis Bellavance (LaPresse) talk about reported rifts between Pierre Poilievre's team and premiers Tim Houston and Doug Ford.
Apr 24, 2025 • 29min
Carney's Call With Trump – April 24, 2025
The strategists panel, Susan Smith, Jordan Paquet and George Soule discuss Mark Carney's March phone call with President Trump in which Carney now admits that Trump brought up his idea to make Canada the 51st state after previously saying Trump had respected Canada's sovereignty on the call.
Ipsos pollster Darrell Bricker talks about the state of the race with just days remaining and what he's looking out for on election day.
Journalists Robert Benzie (Toronto Star) and Sabrina Nanji (Queen's Park Observer) talk about the race in Ontario and vote-rich 905 region.
Apr 24, 2025 • 26min
Polls Tighten Days Before Election – April 23, 2025
Abacus Data CEO David Coletto breaksdown the latest numbers from his firm which show a tightening race in Quebec.
Green Party Co-Leader Elizabeth May discusses her parties chances in the election as well as the decision to remove GPC Co-Leader Jonathan Pedneault from the federal leaders' debate last week.
Alberta pollster Janet Brown talks about the possibility of the Liberal Party gaining seats in Edmonton and Calgary.
Apr 22, 2025 • 28min
Conservatives Release Platform With Under A Week To Go – April 22, 2025
Angus Reid Institute's Shachi Kurl talks about the latest numbers from her firm with election day less than a week away.
The campaign strategists, Michele Cadario, Jordan Paquet and Cheryl Oates discuss the advertising strategies of their respective parties and what they need to do with less than a week left to campaign.
CKNW radio host and former B.C. MLA Jas Johal talks about the state of the federal campaign in British Columbia and what he's watching out for.
Apr 21, 2025 • 28min
Pope Francis Dead at 88 - His Legacy in Canada – April 21, 2025
Former president of the Métis National Council Cassidy Caron talks about Pope Francis' legacy in Canada following his 2022 apology for the church's involvement in the residential schools system
Bishop William McGrattan, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops talks about Pope Francis's visit to Canada in 2022 and the what comes next for the Vatican's relationship with Indigenous Canadians.
Pollster and author of The Writ Éric Grenier talks about the latest numbers with just a week to go before election day.
Apr 19, 2025 • 29min
The Impact of the Debates – April 18, 2025
The Leaders' Debate Commission has come under fire this week for its administration of the English and French debates. The commission received a lot of criticism for the presence of right-wing media organizations in the French post-debate scrum, and the cancellation the following day of the English post-debate scrum because of “security concerns.” CPAC’s Michael Serapio discusses the work of the Commission and what the future holds for it with bureau chiefs Robert Fife (The Globe and Mail), Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Joël-Denis Bellavance (La Presse).
Strategists Michele Cadario (Liberal), Jordan Paquet (Conservative) and George Soule (NDP) also share their assessments about the performances of the federal party leaders in the English debate, as well as how the parties should use those performances and carry that forward into that last week of campaigning before Election Day.
