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 10, 2022 • 29min
Premiers Continue Health Care Pressure - December 9, 2022
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs joins Michael Serapio for questions on the continuing provincial demand for more federal health transfers.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald discusses this week's Special Chiefs Assembly.
And journalists Catherine Lévesque (National Post) and Marsha McLeod (The Globe and Mail) review the week's top political developments.
Dec 9, 2022 • 30min
Industry Minister On Foreign Investment, National Security - December 8, 2022
Michael Serapio questions Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne on his proposed changes to foreign investment review and the Investment Canada Act.
Political commentators Kate Harrison, Susan Smith, and Kim Wright debate today's top headlines.
And part two of our interview with Sport Minister Pascale Ste-Onge looks at the Hockey Canada scandal and ending the toxic culture that remains in many Canadian sports.
Dec 8, 2022 • 28min
Bank of Canada Hikes Interest Rates Again- December 7, 2022
Economists Kevin Page and Armine Yalnizyan join Michael Serapio to analyze the Bank of Canada's latest interest rate hike that puts the key benchmark rate at 4.25%.
Dallas Smith, president of the Nanwakolas Council, discusses today's $800-million federal pledge for Indigenous-led conservation projects in British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Ontario.
And Sport Minister Pascale Ste-Onge explains her refusal to attend the FIFA World Cup in Qatar -- and whether it was a show of support for LGBTQ+ and migrant workers' rights.
Dec 7, 2022 • 29min
A-G Flags Billions in Questionable Pandemic Benefits - December 6, 2022
Auditor General Karen Hogan joins Michael Serapio to discuss her latest reports on COVID-19 benefits and wasted vaccine doses.
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault talks about the UN biodiversity conference now underway in Montreal -- and the effort to produce a global agreement on species at risk and ecosystem protection.
Ukrainian parliamentarian Mariya Ionova and former deputy prime minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze discuss the situation in their country as Russian attacks continue and winter looms.
Dec 6, 2022 • 30min
Bill C-21, Hospital Pressure, Big City Mayors - December 5, 2022
MPs join Michael Serapio to debate Bill C-21 and which firearms should and should not be banned: Rachel Bendayan (Liberal), Raqual Dancho (Conservative), and Peter Julian (NDP).
Dr. ALika Lafontaine, president of the Canadian Medical Association, reacts to the unprecedented pressure on children's hospitals this autumn from COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory illnesses.
Halifax Mayor Mike Savage, chair of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Big City Mayors Caucus, talks about their meetings this week in Ottawa.
Dec 3, 2022 • 28min
The Week in Review - December 2, 2022
Michael Serapio reviews the week's top political developments -- including the Alberta sovereignty bill -- with journalists Tyler Dawson (National Post), Bob Fife (The Globe and Mail), and Stephanie Levitz (Toronto Star).
André Laliberté, a University of Ottawa professor of political studies, talks about the controversy over this week's on-campus speech by Chinese ambassador Cong Peiwu.
And Conservative Senator Salma Ataullahjan discusses her bill on human trafficking, which reached the House of Commons floor for debate earlier today.
Dec 2, 2022 • 28min
Calls Grow To Pause MAID Expansion - December 1, 2022
Calls are growing for the federal government to delay expanding access to medical assistance in dying. Martin Stringer speaks with Dr. Valerie Taylor, chair of psychiatry at the University of Calgary.
Former Quebec premier Jean Charest reflects on Canada's new Indo-Pacific Strategy and his own business experience with China.
And political commentators Muhammad Ali, Tim Powers, and Kim Wright debate the latest headlines.
Dec 1, 2022 • 28min
Reaction To Alberta Sovereignty Bill - November 30, 2022
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is moving ahead with her provincial sovereignty act that could allow the cabinet to overturn and ignore legislation. Michael Serapio discusses what comes next with MPs Arif Virani (Liberal) and Blake Desjarlais (NDP), along with political commentator Jen Gerson (The Line).
Pedro Antunes, chief economist for the Conference Board of Canada, analyzes the Bank of Canada's first reported loss in its 87-year history.
Nov 30, 2022 • 29min
Ukraine, James Smith Cree Nation, Alberta - November 29, 2022
Daniel Bilak, a Ukrainian-Canadian living in Ukraine and fighting with its Territorial Defence Forces against Russia's invasion, provides a first-hand look at frontlines of the conflict.
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu discusses new federal funding to help James Smith Cree Nation recover from last September's stabbing attack, which killed 11 people and injured 18 in Saskatchewan.
Political columnist Graham Thomson analyzes the Alberta speech from the throne and priorities for Premier Danielle Smith.
Nov 29, 2022 • 29min
Canada Releases Indo-Pacific Strategy - November 28, 2022
Defence Minister Anita Anand joins Michael Serapio to discuss the government's new Indo-Pacific strategy. We also have reaction from MPs Arif Virani (Liberal), Garnett Genuis (Conservative) and Heather McPherson (NDP) -- and from Guy Saint-Jacques, a former Canadian ambassador to China.
