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
Mar 10, 2023 • 30min
Foreign Interference and China - March 9, 2023
Former RCMP deputy commissioner Pierre-Yves Borduas joins Michael Serapio to discuss the latest developments on foreign interference.
Political strategists Richard Mahoney, Tom Parkin, and Tim Powers analyze how the foreign interference story is playing out on Parliament Hill.
Mar 9, 2023 • 29min
Foreign Interference, Interest Rates, Health Funding – March 8, 2023
University of Ottawa associate professor and security expert Michael Kempa discusses the latest developments on foreign election interference allegations involving the Chinese government.
Economists Pedro Antunes (Conference Board of Canada) and Armine Yalnizyan (Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers) analyze the state of Canada’s economy and the Bank of Canada’s decision to keep its benchmark interest rate at 4.5 per cent.
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos discusses the federal government’s latest health-care agreements with the provinces and concerns about private health-care delivery within the universal public system.
Mar 8, 2023 • 29min
Head of European Commission Visits Canada – March 7, 2023
Janice Stein, founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs, joins CPAC’s Michael Serapio to discuss Canada-Europe relations and the importance of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyden's visit to Canada.
Michael Wernick, Clerk of the Privy Council from 2016 to 2019 analyzes the prime minister’s plans to review foreign election interference and appoint an independent special rapporteur.
Former cabinet ministers Anne McLellan and Lisa Raitt, now co-chairs of the Coalition for a Better Future, discuss the group’s new scorecard on Canada’s economy and future prosperity.
Mar 7, 2023 • 30min
PM Pledges Special Rapporteur On Foreign Interference – March 6, 2023
Michael Serapio questions MPs Mark Gerretsen (Liberal) and Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) on new measures unveiled by the prime minister to combat foreign election interference in Canada. We also have analysis from Guy Saint-Jacques, Canada's former ambassador to China. And polls analyst Éric Grenier (The Writ) talks about how voters are responding to the federal government's handling of allegations.
Feb 18, 2023 • 58min
Rouleau report: Use of Emergencies Act justified – February 17, 2023
Michael Serapio hosts CPAC's full coverage as Commissioner Paul Rouleau releases his report on the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act. We hear from Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair for his reaction, as well as analysis from experts and journalists.
Feb 17, 2023 • 29min
Ethics Commissioner To Step Down - February 16, 2023
Mario Dion joins Michael Serapio to discuss his retirement as conflict of interest and ethics commissioner.
Political observers Kiavash Najafi, Susan Smith, and Larysa Waler analyze the latest headlines.
And U.S. journalist Dave Levinthal (Raw Story) talks about Nikki Haley's bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Feb 16, 2023 • 30min
RCMP Commissioner To Retire - February 15, 2023
Brenda Lucki has announced plans to retire as RCMP commissioner. Michael Serapio has reaction from former deputy commissioner Pierre-Yves Borduas.
The government is ending research funding that involves security threats from foreign governments. We hear from MPs Taleeb Noormohamed (Liberal), Michael Chong (Conservative), and Heather McPherson (NDP).
Human rights lawyer Zilla Jones discusses a new steering committee to address anti-Black discrimination in Canada's justice system.
Feb 15, 2023 • 29min
U.S. Investigates Balloon Debris - February 14, 2023
Former CSIS director Richard Fadden joins Michael Serapio to analyze the U.S. investigation of Chinese balloon debris, after several airborne were shot down across North America.
NDP MP Alistair MacGregor discusses the summoning of grocery store CEOs to testify at the agriculture committee.
Official Languages Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor faces questions on the status of Bill C-13.
Feb 14, 2023 • 29min
Defending Canadian Airspace - February 13, 2023
MPs Bryan May (Liberal), James Bezan (Conservative) and Daniel Blaikie (NDP) join Michael Serapio with their views on Canada’s defence preparedness, following the U.S. shootdown of an unidentified object over Yukon. We also hear from retired general and former chief of the defence staff Tom Lawson.
Toronto city councillor Paula Fletcher joins Michael Serapio to discuss Mayor John Tory’s decision to resign after admitting to having a romantic relationship with a staffer.
Feb 11, 2023 • 29min
Bail Reform And The Week In Review – February 10, 2023
MPs Greg Fergus (Liberal) and Frank Caputo (Conservative) debate bail reform and a Conservative private member's bill.
Journalists Joël-Denis Bellavance (La Presse), Bob Fife (The Globe and Mail), and Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) analyze the week's top stories on Parliament Hill.
