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
Feb 3, 2025 • 29min
Tariffs On Canada Paused For At Least 30 Days – February 3, 2025
Journalists Nick Taylor-Vaisey (POLITICO) and Nojoud Al Mallees (Globe and Mail) breakdown the last-minute 30 day pause on 25 per cent tariffs against Canada by the Trump administration.
Saskatchewan Premeir Scott Moe discusses the response he wants to see from Canada relating to potential tariffs.
Economist Pedro Antunes talks about the impacts tariffs would have on the Canadian and American economies.
Dec 17, 2024 • 30min
Trudeau's Future in Limbo – December 17, 2024
Immigration Minister Marc Miller speaks about the government's border security plan and Justin Trudeau's leadership.
The journalist's panel, Bob Fife (Globe and Mail), Joël-Denis Bellavance (La Presse) and Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) discuss the future of Justin Trudeau's leadership as Liberal leader and prime minister.
Our strategists panel, Cole Hogan, Susan Smith and George Soule discuss the next steps for the Prime Minister and other parties following Chrystia Freeland's resignation from cabinet.
Dec 13, 2024 • 29min
Premiers Differ on Tariff Strategy – December 13, 2024
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is demanding a federal election so Canadians may choose who will negotiate with the incoming Trump administration.
Bob Fife (The Globe and Mail), Tonda MacCharles (the Toronto Star) and Mia Rabson (The Canadian Press) look at how provinces are playing to their strengths in dealing with the possible imposition of 25% tariffs by the U.S. on Canada as of January 21.
Alberta's deputy premier Mike Ellis outlines the province's border security plan to restrict the flow of drugs going into the United States.
Dec 12, 2024 • 30min
Newfoundland and Labrador Inks Historic Deal with Quebec – December 12, 2024
Political observers Susan Smith (Liberal), Cole Hogan (Conservative) and George Soule (New Democrat) weigh in on federal and provincial plans to prepare for the second Trump presidency.
Seamus O'Regan, Liberal Party MP for St. John's South—Mount Pearl, Nfld and Lab., explains the significance of the historic energy deal between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Goldy Hyder, president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada on the need for an industrial policy around military spending.
Dec 11, 2024 • 29min
PM Shares Plan to Counter Tariffs with Premiers – December 11, 2024
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt speaks about plans made at today's First Ministers meeting, and reveals that New England governors are aware how hurtful the proposed Trump tariffs could be to the United States.
Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, discusses the Trump tarrif threats and says the U.S. president-elect is trolling Canada and using the leverage he has available.
Former NAFTA advisory council member Hassan Yussuff says the premiers and the prime minister need to be in sync when facing threats from the U.S. president-elect.
Dec 10, 2024 • 30min
Canada Post Strike Drags on as Holidays Approach – December 10, 2024
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith attends the U.S. Western Governors meeting to find common ground on border security and the threatened Trump tariffs.
Retail Council of Canada's Matt Poirier calls on the federal government to step in and end the four-week old Canada Post strike.
Canadian Union of Postal Worker's negotiator Jim Gallant says its members do not want to be on the picket line, but their demands for wage increases are not being met by Canada Post.
The Chief Economist at the Conference Board of Canada, Pedro Antunes, says there is no reason for the Bank of Canada to keep restrictive interest rates. The Bank will release its interest rate decision on December 11.
Dec 9, 2024 • 29min
Assad Regime Toppled in Syria – December 9, 2024
Jon Allen, former Canadian ambassador to Israel, looks at Syria's political future and how Canada should respond to the rebel regime that forced Bashir al-Assad to flee to Russia.
David Coletto, founder of Abacus Data, finds the Conservatives would come out 23 points ahead of the Liberals if an election were held today.
Andriy Shevchenko, former Ukrainian ambassador to Canada, shares his expectations for how the Trump administration will deal with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Dec 6, 2024 • 28min
Ottawa Unveils Arctic Foreign Policy – December 6, 2024
The journalists panel, Bob Fife (Globe and Mail), Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Joël-Denis Bellavance (LaPresse) talk about Ottawa's new Arctic foreign policy.
Rabbi Chaim Mendelsohn and Imam Mohammad Tawhidi speak about Jewish-Muslim relations and the Abraham Accords in a panel discussion.
Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai discusses Arctic security.
Dec 5, 2024 • 30min
Liberals Introduce Regulations to Ban Assault Style Weapons – December 5, 2024
Public Services Minister Jean-Yves Duclos goes in-depth into the government’s new regulations to ban assault style weapons.
The Assembly of First Nations passes a resolution demanding a national inquiry into systemic racism in policing after recent police killings of Indigenous individuals. The AFN's national chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak explains.
Political observers Susan Smith (Liberal), Josie Sabatino (Conservative) and George Soule (New Democrat) look at the latest Conservative confidence motion and the upcoming vote on Monday.
Dec 4, 2024 • 29min
Liberals to Split Online Harms Bill in Two – December 4, 2024
Mark Gerretsen (Government Deputy House leader), Andrew Scheer (Conservative House leader) and Peter Julian (NDP House leader) discuss the Conservative Party leader's demand for the release of the federal fall economic statement.
Arif Virani (Justice minister) splits the online harms bill in two, and blames the ongoing filibuster in the House for delays.
Steven Guilbeault (Environment minister) talks about Canada's support for the US $300 billion finance goal set at the recent UN Climate Change Conference (COP29).
