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
Nov 3, 2023 • 29min
Carbon Tax Rollback and Alberta Environment Minister - November 2, 2023
Political observers Susan Smith (Liberal), Tim Powers (Conservative) and Anne McGrath (NDP) weigh in on the week's top stories, including how the federal government's rollback on the carbon price is impacting the prime minister politically.
Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz explains her province's stance on the federal government’s rollback on the carbon price for home heating.
Correctional Investigator of Canada Ivan Zinger discusses his annual report, which found Indigenous peoples continue to be overrepresented in Canada's prisons.
Nov 2, 2023 • 27min
Minister Randy Boissonnault, Gaza Refugee Camp Attack - November 1, 2023
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Randy Boissonnault responds to growing criticism over the federal government's decision to pause the carbon price on home heating oil.
Bushra Khalidi, the Palestinian policy lead for Oxfam, discusses the need for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war following a deadly attack on a refugee camp in Gaza.
Polls analyst Éric Grenier from The Writ weighs in on how the brewing controversy over the Liberal government's carbon price rollback could affect its support nationally.
Nov 1, 2023 • 29min
Danielle Smith, Carbon Price Debate and Marc Miller – October 31, 2023
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith explains her government’s opposition to the federal government's decision to temporarily pause the carbon tax on home heating in Atlantic Canada.
Freelance political columnist and commentator Graham Thomson weighs in on the growing feud between the Alberta government and Ottawa over energy policy.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller discusses the federal government's plan to improve Canada's immigration system.
Oct 31, 2023 • 29min
Scott Moe, Carbon Price Debate, Unifor's Tentative Agreements - October 30, 2023
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe explains why he's threatening to withhold collecting and sending the federal carbon price in response to the government's decision to exempt it from home heating oil in Atlantic Canada.
MPs Darrell Samson (Liberal), Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) and Peter Julian (NDP) debate the federal government's adjustments to the federal carbon system.
Lana Payne, the national president of Unifor, discusses two deals reached between the union and automaker Stellantis and management with the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Oct 28, 2023 • 30min
Carbon Price Pause on Home Heating, Erin O'Toole Testifies – October 27, 2023
Journalists Bob Fife (The Globe and Mail) and Tonda MacCharles (The Toronto Star) weigh in on the week's top political stories, including the prime minister's suprise announcement that the government will implement a three-year pause to its carbon price on home heating oil in Atlantic Canada and rural areas.
Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole discusses his testimony before a House of Commons committee studying foreign interference in Canada.
Oct 27, 2023 • 29min
Ontario Finance Minister, Alberta's Proposal to Leave the CPP – October 26, 2023
Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy discusses his letter to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland calling for an urgent pan-Canadian meeting on Alberta’s proposal to leave the Canada Pension Plan.
Our political observers Susan Smith (Liberal), Chuck Strahl (Conservative) and Anne McGrath (NDP) join CPAC's Michael Serapio to weigh in on Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's intention to withdraw her province from the Canada Pension Plan and Erin O’Toole's testimony on foreign interference before a House of Commons committee.
Oct 26, 2023 • 28min
Randy Boissonnault, Israel-Hamas War, Interest Rate Decision – October 25, 2023
Employment Minister and Alberta MP Randy Boissonault responds to Alberta's pitch to leave the Canada Pension Plan and set up its own.
Ahmed Benchemsi, the communications director for the Middle East and North Africa with Human Rights Watch, discusses the humanitarian situation in Gaza in the face of the Israel-Hamas war.
Pedro Antunes, the chief economist at the Conference Board of Canada, reacts to the Bank of Canada's decision to hold its key overnight rate at 5 per cent.
Oct 25, 2023 • 30min
Patty Hajdu, Child Welfare Compensation, Rise in Antisemitism – October 24, 2023
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu provides the federal government's response to the Federal Court's approval of a $23 billion compensation package for First Nations children harmed by the on-reserve child welfare system.
Plus, Sarah Clarke, a lawyer representing the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, a co-complainant in this case, offers her thoughts on the landmark agreement.
Michael Mostyn, CEO of B'Nai Brith Canada, speaks out against a rise in anti-semitic incidents in response to the Israel-Hamas war.
Dan Arnold, chief strategy officer for Pollara Strategic Insights, discusses the Liberal government's strategy as its federal approval numbers continue to drop.
Oct 24, 2023 • 29min
Calls for a Ceasefire, Saskatchewan's Parental Rights Bill – October 23, 2023
Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, explains why it took Canada nearly a week to conclude Israel was not responsible for a deadly blast at a Gaza City hospital.
MPs Heather McPherson (NDP) and Mike Morrice (Green Party) discuss an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.
Helen Kennedy, executive director of EGALE Canada, a leading LGBTQ advocacy group, responds to the Saskatchewan government's passing of its controversial parental rights bill.
Oct 21, 2023 • 29min
MPs Call for a Ceasefire, Joe Biden's Prime-time Address – October 20, 2023
Political journalists Kristy Kirkup (The Globe and Mail), Alex Ballingall (The Toronto Star) and Nick Taylor-Vaisey (Politico) weigh in on the week's top political caucus, including dissent in the Liberal caucus over the federal government's response to the Israel-Hamas war.
Former Canadian ambassador to Israel Jon Allen discusses the federal government's position on the Israel-Hamas war.
Former U.S. ambassador to Canada Gordon Giffin shares his thoughts on U.S. President Joe Biden's rare prime-time address calling for more support for Israel and Ukraine.
