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
May 30, 2025 • 29min
Tariff Whiplash – 29 May 2025
Former International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan discusses Canada's position as tariff policy faces a judicial challenges in the U.S.
Assembly of First Nations Chief Cindy Woodhouse talks about her conversations with Prime Minister Carney around Indigenous priorities and her meeting with King Charles III earlier this week.
The strategists panel, Susan Smith, Cole Hogan and George Soule discuss decorum in the House of Commons and Mark Carney's first impressions in Parliament.
May 29, 2025 • 28min
Carney Faces Question Period – May 28, 2025
Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie discusses her party's objections to the government failing to produce a spring budget and how the Conservatives might work with the Liberals to pass legislation they agree on.
Retired Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie talks about the government's renewed focus on defence spending and where some of that money might go.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May remarks on decorum in the House of Commons as MPs take part in the first Question Period in six months.
May 28, 2025 • 28min
The King's Throne Speech – May 27, 2025
Government House Leader Steve MacKinnon discusses his government's priorities and working with the opposition to get legislation passed.
Royal commentator Bonnie Brownlee talks about the significance of King Charles' delivery of the speech from the throne today.
Political strategists Stevie O'Brien, Jordan Paquet and Farouk Karim breakdown what the throne speech will mean for the federal parties going into the new session of Parliament.
May 27, 2025 • 29min
MPs Elect a New Speaker – May 26, 2025
Former House of Commons speaker, Geoff Regan talks about the role of the speaker and reestablishing decorum in the chamber.
Royal historian Carolyn Harris discusses the first day of the Royal visit to Canada and the significance of the timing of the trip.
NDP interim Leader Don Davies discusses his party not getting official party status and how his party will work to maintain relevance in the new Parliament.
May 3, 2025 • 28min
Mark Carney's Next Moves – May 2, 2025
The bureau chiefs panel, Robert Fife (Globe and Mail), Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Joël-Denis Bellavance (La Presse) discuss Mark Carney's first press conference since winning Monday's election and about Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre being offered a seat in Alberta to run in a by-election.
Polls analyst and author of The Writ Éric Grenier along with 338 Canada creator Philippe J. Fournier talk about the what the polls got right and where they missed in their predictions of Monday's general election.
May 2, 2025 • 29min
Danielle Smith Takes on the Carney Government – May 1, 2025
The strategists panel, Stevie O'Brien, Cole Hogan and George Soule talk about Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's fight with Ottawa as well as the next steps for the federal parties.
Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz discusses her government's court challenge to Ottawa's clean electricity regulations and it's relationship with the new Carney government.
May 1, 2025 • 28min
Next Steps for the Federal Parties – April 30, 2025
Conservative MP-elect Scott Aitchison (Parry Sound - Muskoka) talks about what's next for his party and its leader Pierre Poilievre after Monday's election loss.
NDP MP Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona) talks about the future of her party after it failed to win official party status on Monday night and is left with just seven MPs.
Former Jean Chretien chief of staff Eddie Goldenberg discusses how the Mark Carney minority government might function and work with other parties to pass legislation.
Apr 30, 2025 • 28min
Liberals Win Minority Government – April 29, 2025
Polls analyst and author of The Writ Éric Grenier breaks down the numbers following last night's election and how the Liberals ended up with a minority government win.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May talks about how the Green Party performed in the election and how she expects Parliament to function in a minority situation.
The bureau chiefs panel, Robert Fife (Globe and Mail), Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Joël-Denis Bellavance (LaPresse) with their takeaways from election night and what the future holds in Parliament.
Apr 26, 2025 • 27min
Closing Arguments – April 25, 2025
Pollster and author of the Writ Éric Grenier breaks down his latest numbers heading into the final weekend of the campaign.
The bureau chiefs panel, Bob Fife (Globe and Mail) Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Joël-Denis Bellavance (LaPresse) talk about reported rifts between Pierre Poilievre's team and premiers Tim Houston and Doug Ford.
Apr 24, 2025 • 29min
Carney's Call With Trump – April 24, 2025
The strategists panel, Susan Smith, Jordan Paquet and George Soule discuss Mark Carney's March phone call with President Trump in which Carney now admits that Trump brought up his idea to make Canada the 51st state after previously saying Trump had respected Canada's sovereignty on the call.
Ipsos pollster Darrell Bricker talks about the state of the race with just days remaining and what he's looking out for on election day.
Journalists Robert Benzie (Toronto Star) and Sabrina Nanji (Queen's Park Observer) talk about the race in Ontario and vote-rich 905 region.
