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
Oct 22, 2022 • 29min
Opposition Demands Blair and Lucki Resign - October 21, 2022
Michael Serapio questions Pam Damoff, the parliamentary secretary for the minister of public safety, on the Conservative call for cabinet minister Bill Blair and RCMP commissioner Brenda Lucki to resign in light of new audio connected to alleged political interference in the Nova Scotia mass shooting investigation. They also discuss the coming into force of new handgun regulations that freeze the purchase, sale, and transfer of handguns.
Ottawa city councillor Mathieu Fleury reacts to this week's testimony by municipal leaders and police at the Public Order Emergency Commission.
Journalists Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Joanna Smith (The Canadian Press) analyze today's top political headlines.
Oct 21, 2022 • 26min
Ottawa Police, Intelligence Warnings, and the Freedom Convoy - October 20, 2022
This week the Public Order Emergency Commission is hearing first-hand testimony on the police response to the Freedom Convoy occupation of Ottawa. Michael Serapio welcomes Michael Kempa, a security analyst and University of Ottawa associate professor of criminology, for his reaction.
And political commentators Tim Powers, Geoff Turner, and Kim Wright analyze the politics of a potential recession and react to the resignation of Liz Truss as British prime minister.
Oct 20, 2022 • 27min
Inflation, Replacement Workers, Arctic Security - October 19, 2022
Michael Serapio speaks with Sohaib Shahid (Conference Board of Canada) and Trevor Tombe (University of Calgary) about the Canadian economy and the latest inflation numbers.
Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan discusses the start of consultation on a proposal to ban replacement workers in federally-regulated sectors.
Senator Tony Dean recaps his recent tour of Canada's Arctic region and ongoing concerns about security and sovereignty in the Far North.
And parliamentarians pay tribute to the late New Democrat MP Bill Blaikie, who passed away in September.
Oct 19, 2022 • 30min
Ottawa Mayor Testifies at Emergencies Act Inquiry - October 18, 2022
Michael Serapio and Andrew Thomson recap Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson's testimony at the Public Order Emergency Commission, with reaction from MPs Yasir Naqvi (Liberal) and Matthew Green (NDP).
Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald discusses her committee appearance on legislation to create the National Council for Reconciliation.
Oct 18, 2022 • 29min
Emergencies Act, Food Prices – October 17, 2022
The inquiry into the federal emergency has started its full week of public testimony. Michael Serapio speaks with former Ottawa police chief Charles Bordeleau and lawyer Paul Champ, who is representing Ottawa residents at the Public Order Emergency Commission.
NDP MP Alistair MacGregor discusses his motion calling on the government to address high food prices, which received unanimous support today in the House of Commons.
Oct 8, 2022 • 29min
Iran, Student Work Visas, Danielle Smith's Win - October 7, 2022
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser joins Martin Stringer on the latest measures against Iran -- plus Canada's labour shortage and the plan to let international post-secondary students work more hours during the school year.
Lori Williams, a Mount Royal University professor and political scientist, analyzes Danielle Smith's United Conservative leadership win and what to expect from the new Alberta premier.
Journalists Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Mia Rabson (The Canadian Press) offer their thoughts on this week's top political stories.
And Ted Mallett of the Conference Board of Canada reviews the state of the labour market and September's job data.
Oct 7, 2022 • 29min
Alberta Conservatives, Inuit Suicide Prevention, Iran - October 6, 2022
Political commentator Graham Thomson analyzes the United Conservative leadership race and tonight’s result as party members choose a new leader – and premier of Alberta – to succeed Jason Kenney.
Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), joins Michael Serapio after the federal government committed new funding for the National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy
Farhad Rezaei, a visiting political science professor at York University, discusses the protests against the Iranian regime after the death of Mahsa Amini – and the call for Canada to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist entity.
Oct 6, 2022 • 28min
Ukraine, Hockey Quebec, Disaster Response, Housing - October 5, 2022
Michael Serapio speaks with Larisa Galadza, Canada's ambassador to Ukraine, about the latest developments in Russia's invasion -- including the so-called annexation of Ukrainian territory -- as Ukrainian forces continues to drive back the Russian military.
CPAC's Andrew Thomson has political reaction to the latest Hockey Canada development -- Hockey Quebec's decision to cut ties and withhold funds from the national organization.
Richard Fadden, a former deputy minister of defence and senior national security official, outlines his concern with the domestic deployment of Canadian Forces personnel as a natural disaster response.
Amanda Arella, YWCA Canada's director of public policy, explains the attempt to raise awareness for housing affordability issues specific to women and gender-diverse individuals.
Oct 5, 2022 • 29min
Hockey Canada, Fiona Recovery, Quebec Election - October 4, 2022
Theresa Bailey, founder of the Canadian Hockey Moms website, joins Michael Serapio to react to the latest Hockey Canada revelations and today's committee testimony by the organization's interim chair.
Ginette Petitpas Taylor, the minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), discusses the $300-million federal fund for Hurricane Fiona recovery.
Polling analyst Eric Grenier looks at yesterday's Quebec election result: the CAQ victory and where the other parties go from here.
Jerry DeMarco, the federal environment commissioner, answers questions on his office's latest reports on species at risk.
Sep 30, 2022 • 28min
The State of Reconciliation - September 29, 2022
Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald, Métis National Council president Cassidy Caron, and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller joins Michael Serapio ahead of the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine acting mayor Gaétan Richard tells Michael Serapio about the PM’s visit to Quebec and what must come next in the storm recovery.
