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 16, 2022 • 29min
NATO and Russia, Auditor General, Inflation - November 15, 2022
Poland reported a deadly explosion on the same day Russia launched a major missile attack against neighbouring Ukraine. How will NATO respond to an attack on a member state? Michael Serapio speaks with Robert Baines, president of the NATO Association of Canada.
Auditor General Karen Hogan discusses her new reports on the federal housing strategy, Arctic security, and emergency support to First Nations communities. And Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen responds to the AG's concerns about the government's plan for chronic homelessness.
Unifor president Lana Payne outlines Canada's largest private-sector union wants policymakers to respon to high inflation and affordability challenges.
Nov 15, 2022 • 29min
Masks Recommended, But Not Required -- November 14, 2022
Should mandatory mask policies come back as Canadian hospitals deal with COVID-19, RSV, and influenza? Michael Serapio speaks with a pair of public health officials: Dr. Grace Salvo (Edmonton) and Dr. Robert Cushman (Renfrew County, Ontario).
Former justice minister Allan Rock discusses the campaign for better treatment of detained refugees and asylum seekers.
And Guy Saint-Jacques, a former Canadian ambassador to China, analyzes the response to alleged Chinese interference in the 2019 election campaign as both countries attend the G20 summit in Indonesia.
Nov 5, 2022 • 29min
State of the Economy, Saskatchewan First Act - November 4, 2022
Martin Stringer examines the latest job numbers and yesterday's fall economic statement with economists Pedro Antunes (Conference Board of Canada) and Jim Stanford (Centre for Future Work).
Steve Staples, national director of public policy for the Canadian Health Coalition, previews the upcoming meetings between Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos and his provincial and territorial colleagues.
Saskatchewan Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre faces question on the province’s legislation to assert its constitutional jurisdiction over natural resources.
And journalists Ian Bailey (The Globe and Mail) and Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) analyze the fiscal update and this week's testimony at the Emergencies Act inquiry.
Nov 4, 2022 • 59min
Fall Economic Statement – November 3, 2022
Michael Serapio has full coverage of today's fall economic statement, including political reaction and expert analysis. Among those interviewed are associate finance minister Randy Boissonault, Conservative Treasury Board critic Stephanie Kusie, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, economist David Macdonald (Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives), Anne McLellan and Lisa Raitt (Coalition for a Better Future), and Robert Asselin (Business Council of Canada). Political commentators Tom Parkin, Tim Powers, and Susan Smith also offer their view.
Nov 3, 2022 • 30min
Convoy Leaders in the Spotlight at Inquiry - November 2, 2022
Freedom Convoy leader Pat King testified today at the Emergencies Act inquiry, following testimony by a convoy lawyer and a key organizer. Michael Serapio has more analysis and details from journalist Alex Ballingall (Toronto Star) and security expert Stephanie Carvin (Carleton University).
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser talks about the federal plan to increase the number of new arrivals to 500,000 annually by 2025.
Former Reform leader Preston Manning explains his call for an independent, national inquiry into the federal COVID-19 response.
Nov 2, 2022 • 29min
Convoy Leaders Testify Before Rouleau Commission - November 1, 2022
Chris Barber, one of the Freedom Convoy leaders facing charges for the occupation of Ottawa, appeared today at the Emergencies Act inuqiry. Michael Serapio recaps his testimony with journalists Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Christopher Nardi (National Post).
Two Ontario MPPs react to Ontario Premier Doug Ford's legal fight against testifying at the inquiry -- and react to his government's bill that would use the Constitution's notwithstanding clause to force education workers into a new contract. We hear from NDP education critic Chandra Pasma and interim Liberal leader John Fraser.
Iain Reeve, an immigration expert with the Conference Board of Canada, analyzes the government's plan to boost immigration levels over the next three years.
Nov 1, 2022 • 28min
Fiscal Update Preview, Haiti, Brazil - October 31, 2022
Martin Stringer welcomes Perrin Beatty, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, to preview this week's economic and fiscal update.
Warren Mabee of Queen's University's Institute for Energy and Environmental Policy, analyzes what the fiscal update might say about federal subsidies for clean technologies.
Patrick August, a Haitian-Canadian community organizer, discusses what further aid Canada could provide to Haiti as that country struggles with a cholera epidemic, economic collapse, and lawlessness.
Historian and political organizer Andre Pagliarini talks about Brazil's presidential election and the victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Oct 29, 2022 • 27min
Former Police Chief Appears At Emergencies Act Inquiry - October 28, 2022
Former Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly took the stand today at the Public Order Emergency Commission. Michael Serapio has reaction from one of Sloly's predecessors, Charles Bordeleau, and analysis from journalists Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Christopher Nardi (National Post).
And as he retires, Peter Van Dusen looks back on a distinguished journalism and broadcasting career that included 21 years at CPAC as executive producer, anchor, and host of PrimeTime Politics.
Oct 28, 2022 • 28min
U.S. Secretary of State In Ottawa - October 27, 2022
MPs join Michael Serapio to discuss foreign policy issues on a day U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Ottawa for meetings with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly -- and an announcement on Haiti.
We also hear from Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong on reports of Chinese "police" stations operating in Canada.
Political commentators Richard Mahoney, Tim Powers, and Kim Wright analyze Ontario Premier Doug Ford and the Emergencies Act inquiry -- and the political debate over affordability after another interest rate hike.
Oct 27, 2022 • 30min
Bank of Canada Again Boosts Interest Rates - October 26, 2022
The Bank of Canada raised its benchmark interest rate by another 50 basis points to 3.75%. Michael Serapio hears analysis from economists Mostafa Askari (Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy) and Armine Yalnizyan (Atkinson Foundation).
AFN Regional Chief (Manitoba) Cindy Woodhouse reacts to the Canadian Human Right Tribunal's rejection of the $20-billion federal compensation package for the First Nations child welfare system. We also welcome Sarah Clarke, co-complainant for the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada in the historic case.
And we have key numbers from today's Census release on immigration, diversity, and religion in Canada.
