The Vassy Kapelos Show

Vassy is joined by CTV's Rachel Aiello, Judy Trinh, and Abigail Bimman as they provide the latest from the campaign trails with the three major parties. On todays show:  Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress joins host Vassy Kapelos to discuss how Hudson's Bay Co. will pay up to $3 million total in retention bonuses to 121 managers and executives, but will not pay severance to its more than 9,300 workers. Mike Moffatt, Assistant Professor with the Ivey Business School and senior director of policy and innovation at the Smart Prosperity Institute joins host Vassy Kapelos to answer this weeks 'The Explainer' question on if we have seen any improvement in the supply of housing or the ability of people to buy a home.  The Daily Debrief Panel with Laura D’Angelo, Vice President, National Strategy and Public Affairs, Enterprise Canada, Jeff Rutledge, Vice President, McMillian Vantage and Stephanie Levitz, senior reporter in The Globe and Mail's Ottawa bureau. David Patterson, Ontario’s Representative in Washington DC joins Vassy to discuss his meeting with USTR officials Monday in D.C to get a sense of where we stand for April 2nd. 

Bob Fife, Ottawa Bureau Chief, The Globe and Mail joins Vassy to discuss how agents of India and their proxies allegedly meddled in the 2022 election of Pierre Poilievre as Conservative Party Leader as part of a larger effort to cozy up to politicians of all parties. On todays show:  Rachel Aiello, CTV National News Correspondent, Judy Trinh, CTV National News Correspondent and Mike Le Couteur, Senior Political Correspondent, CTV National News join Vassy with the latest from the campaigns trail with each party.  Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Charles Souza, Liberal Candidate for Mississauga/Lakeshore in Ontario and Michael Barrett, Conservative Candidate for Leeds-Grenville Thousand Islands/Rideau Lakes on some of the policy issues that are driving this election.  Dave Perry, President of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute joins Vassy to discuss if Canada is capable of bolstering it's defence capabilities without being reliant on the U.S.  The Daily Debrief Panel with Shachi Kurl, Shakir Chambers, and Muhammad Ali. Brett Bruen, president of the Global Situation Room and a former U.S. diplomat joins Vassy to discuss how Trump officials texted war plans to a group chat in a secure app.  

Sahir Khan, Vice President of the University of Ottawa's Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy joins host Vassy Kapelos for an analysis on the the plans from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Liberal Leader Mark Carney to cut income taxes for middle-class Canadians.  On todays show:  Vassy is joined by CTV's Rachel Aiello, Judy Trinh, and Mike Le Couteur as they provide the latest from the campaign trails with the three major parties.  Éric Blais, President of Headspace Marketing in Toronto, joins host Vassy Kapelos to discuss how advertisements impact an election campaign, and to help break down the strategy behind each parties choice of advertisement.  The Daily Debrief Panel with Zain Velji, Tom Mulcair, and Jason Lietaer.  Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, Senior Fellow, Graduate School Of Public And International Affairs, University Of Ottawa & Board Member of the China Strategic Risks Institute joins Vassy to discuss Canada's evolving relationship with China. 

Free For All Friday - Hour 1 Amanda Galbraith breaks down today's biggest stories with Canada's top newsmakers. On today's show: The Liberals are surging past the Tories into majority territory, but there are some serious caveats to this batch of data. Shachi Kurl of the Angus Reid Institute breaks down the numbers for us. Should I renew my mortgage? Should I buy a new house? Ian Lee from Carleton University's Sprott School of Business digs into a complex housing market as the federal election looms large. Free For All Friday - Hour 2 Hosts from all over the country join the roundtable to discuss this week's five biggest news stories. Attending today's session are public affairs consultant Bob Richardson and Chris Day of Hill and Knowlton. Ready or not, here comes a federal election! Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to drop the writ on Sunday, with either late-April or early-May serving as the next Voting Day. What are the primary strengths and weaknesses for each party? More importantly, which topic will determine who forms government? In regards to their communication strategies, have the Liberals and Tories both fumbled the football? As a testy trade war continues with the Trump administration, is Canada in unavoidable danger of an economic recession? In light of today's economic uncertainty, are you shelving any major purchases?

Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig joins Vassy Kapelos, Kovrig said China's execution of Canadians is 'demonstrating what kind of China it wants the world to see.' Listen to the full conversation. On todays show:  Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Former ambassador to the U.S. David MacNaughton and Jody Tomas, former national security advisor to Justin Trudeau, as they discuss Canada's trade strategy. CTV science and technology specialist Dan Riskin joins Vassy Kapelos for the weekly segment Talk Science to Me.  Vassy Kapelos hosts ‘The Daily Debrief’ political panel discussion with Laura Stone, Queen’s Park reporter with The Globe and Mail, Robert Benzie, Queen’s Park Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star, and Mike Le Couteur, Senior Political Correspondent, CTV National News. Bill Robson, President and CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute joins Vassy to discuss C.D. Howe Institute’s 2025 Shadow Budget report. 

Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs of Canada as they discuss if Canada and the U.S still share good relations within the NORAD partnership.  On todays show:  Errol Mendes, Professor of Constitutional and International Law at the University of Ottawa’s Law Faculty, President of the Canadian section of the international commission of jurists joins Vassy to discuss how Chief Justice John Roberts rejected calls for impeaching judges shortly after President Donald Trump demanded the removal of one who ruled against his deportation plans. Dr. Dave Williams, Retired CSA Astronaut and mission specialist on two space shuttle mission, currently the CEO of Leap Biosystems joins Vassy to discuss how Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have returned to Earth after nine unplanned months in space. Vassy Kapelos hosts ‘The Daily Debrief’ political panel discussion with Laura D’Angelo, Vice President, National Strategy and Public Affairs, Enterprise Canada, Jeff Rutledge, Vice President, McMillian Vantage and Stephanie Levitz, senior reporter in The Globe and Mail's Ottawa bureau. High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom Ralph Goodale joins Vassy to discuss how Canada's allies have been showing their support amid the recent U.S. threats.

Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Colorado Governor Jared Polis say who says 'we’re only hurting ourselves if the U.S. continues down this path' as Trump's trade war with Canada continues. On todays show:  John Hardie, Deputy Director Of The Russia Program At The Foundation For Defense Of Democracies, a non-profit think tank based in Washington, D.C joins host Vassy Kapelos to discuss ultimately what Russian President Vladimir Putin's goals may be in reaching a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.  Vassy Kapelos hosts ‘The Daily Debrief’ political panel discussion with Shakir Chambers, principal at Earnscliffe Strategies, Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, and Muhammad Ali, Vice President, Crestview Strategy. Former Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute joins host Vassy Kapelos to discuss if Canada look elsewhere for defence procurement projects. 

Listen to Vassy's full conversation with newly minted Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne as they discuss fiscal responsibility, government cuts, and scrapping the carbon tax. On todays show:  David Coletto, founder, Chair and CEO of Abacus Data joins host Vassy Kapelos to discuss the new polling from Abacus Data that shows the Conservative lead drop down to 4 as Liberals reach their highest vote share since August 2021. Dr. Isaac Bogoch, infectious diseases physician at the Toronto General Hospital joins host Vassy Kapelos to discuss how Ontario's chief medical officer of health is urging Ontarians to make sure they are immunized against the measles, amid the most severe outbreak in the province in more than a decade. The Daily Debrief Panel with Tom Mulcair, Tim Powers, and Zain Velji. Mike Le Couteur, Senior Political Correspondent, CTV National News joins Vassy to give the latest on Prime Minister Mark Carneys trip to Europe. 

Free For All Friday - Hour 1 Amanda Galbraith breaks down today's biggest stories with Canada's top newsmakers. On today's show: Canada's got a new Prime Minister, as Mark Carney is officially sworn into office. We also have a new Cabinet. Do we also have an early election on the horizon? CTV's Colton Praill joins us with a recap of today's ceremony. Ontario's Premier met with U.S. officials on Thursday. Doug Ford felt that the discussion was productive and positive. Do you feel that it lowered the tariff temperatures? We speak to David Paterson, who is Ontario's Representative in Washington. Free For All Friday - Hour 2 Hosts from all over the country join the roundtable to discuss this week's five biggest news stories. Attending today's session are CJAD 800 Montreal host Elias Makos and CFAX 1070 Victoria host Ryan Price. Canada's new Prime Minister has been unveiled, along with his brand-new Cabinet. What do you think of the new-look Liberal regime? Ontario's Premier has another meeting scheduled with U.S. officials next week. Is the tariff temperature being lowered? If so, by how much? The latest poll showcases a continuous slide for the Tories, as the Liberals continue to gain momentum. Are the opposing leaders still chomping at the bit to force an early election? Amidst a testy trade war, are you okay with border guards cracking down on everyday Canadians? Are you having a beer on St. Patrick's Day? Spoilers: There is only one answer.

Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne as he speaks about the upcoming U.S. trade talks, Canada's counter-tariff money, and tariffs on Chinese EVs. On todays show:  Catherine Cobden, President and CEO of Canadian Steel Producers Association, joins host Vassy Kapelos to discuss the impact that steel manufacturers in Canada are feeling with the tariffs now in place. CTV science and technology specialist Dan Riskin joins Vassy Kapelos for the weekly segment Talk Science to Me.  Vassy Kapelos hosts ‘The Daily Debrief’ political panel discussion with Laura Stone, Queen’s Park reporter with The Globe and Mail, Robert Benzie, Queen’s Park Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star, and Mike Le Couteur, Senior Political Correspondent, CTV National News. Tim Tierney, Ottawa city councillor and Vice-President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, joins Vassy to discuss his trip to Washington where he engaged in talks about the impacts of tariffs on both sides of the border.