The Vassy Kapelos Show

Rachel Aiello, CTV National News Correspondent joins host Vassy Kapelos to give the latest on the final report from the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference. On todays show: Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Alberta Premiere Danielle Smith on the importance of avoiding a trade war with U.S, and her strategy to do so.  Chris Bumbray, Editor-in-Chief of JoBlo.com, and Film Critic with CTV News Channel joins Vassy to discuss the legal battle taking place between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.  The Daily Debrief Panel with Tim Powers, Shachi Kurl, and Michele Cardario.  Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Industry Minister Francois Philippe Champagne on why he is endorsing Mark Carney in the Liberal leadership race.

Rachel Gropper, Co-President of the Montreal Holocaust Museum and a Holocaust survivor joins guest host Tim Powers on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz to reflect on the importance of remembering one of humanities most tragic events.  On todays show:  Scott Reid, CTV News political commentator, and former communications director for Prime Minister Paul Martin joins guest host Tim Powers to chat how the Liberal leadership race is shaping up.  Carmi Levy, Tech Journalist and Analyst joins guest host Tim Powers to discuss the potential of the U.S government or another buyer purchasing TikTok.  The Daily Debrief with Sharan Kaur, Tom Mulcair, and Neil Brodie.  Laura Stone, Queen’s Park reporter with The Globe and Mail to discuss the snap election called by Doug Ford set to take place Wednesday. 

Free For All Friday - Hour 1. Host Deb Hutton breaks down the biggest stories of the day with Canada's top newsmakers.   On today's show: Flavio Volpe, President of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association joins Deb to discuss how President Trump tells World Economic Forum U.S. doesn’t need Canadian oil, gas, autos or lumber. Marieke Walsh, senior political reporter with The Globe and Mail joins Deb to discuss how the Liberal party leadership race is playing out. Robert Benzie, Queen’s Park Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star joins Deb to discuss how Ontario Premiere Doug Ford said there will be an early provincial election next Wednesday.   Free For All Friday - Hour 2. Hosts from all over the country join the roundtable to discuss the five biggest stories of the week. This week's show features panelists Sharan Kaur, Former Deputy Chief to Bill Morneau and Karen Gordon, Principal, Gordon Strategy. PANEL TOPICS: Topic 1: Trump - How do we deal with him, how serious should we be taking his threats? He says the U.S doesn’t need Canada’s lumber or steel. Topic 2: Liberal Leadership - Is distancing from capital gains and carbon working for the Liberals? How do we see the race shaping up now that all Leadership candidates are finalized? Topic 3: Doug Ford set to call snap election next week, sending Ontario voters to the polls Feb. 27 – How is this shaping up, are there downsides? Topic 4: Rapid Fire segment.

Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault as they discuss his endorsement of Mark Carney for the Liberal leadership and its implications on carbon pricing in Canada. On todays show:  Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie who says Ontario Premier Doug Ford wants to lead Ontarians into 'an unnecessary and very expensive election.' Dan Riskin, CTV Science and Technology Specialist joins Vassy for his weekly segment 'Talk Science to Me'. The Daily Debrief Panel with Laura Stone, Robert Benzie, and Mike Le Couteur. Fae Johnstone, Executive Director, Queer Momentum joins Vassy to discuss President Donald Trump’s executive order limiting gender expression to male or female.

Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Immigration Minister Marc Miller on how he believes the U.S. is still a safe country as outlined in the terms of the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement. On todays show: Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan who says it's ‘absolutely possible’ to accelerate defence spending timeline. Dr. Mitch Shulman, a CTV Medical Analyst and an emergency medicine specialist joins Vassy to answer this weeks 'The Explainer' question on if coffee is good or bad for you.  The Daily Debrief Panel with Tim Powers, Hannah Thibedeau, and Laura D'Angelo. 

Listen to Vassy's full conversation with François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada and Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada on the Governments strategy to combat the potential 25% tariffs that will be imposed by President Trump on February 1st.  On todays show: Greg Ridge, City Councillor for King’s Town district, Kingston joins host Vassy Kapelos to discuss how Kingston was the latest Ontario municipality to declare a food insecurity emergency.  The Daily Debrief Panel with Shakir Chambers, Shachi Kurl, and Saeed Selvam. Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist, The Conference Board of Canada joins host Vassy Kapelos to discuss how Canada’s annual inflation rate slowed in December, and how low interest rate cuts could go if tariffs are applied. 

Scott Reid, CTV News political commentator, and former communications director for Prime Minister Paul Martin and Evan Solomon, Publisher, GZERO Media and Management Committee Member, Eurasia Group join guest host Stefan Keyes to give their reaction to President Trumps inauguration speech.  On todays show:  Mike Le Couteur, Senior Political Correspondent, CTV National News joins guest host Stefan Keyes to discuss what he's been hearing at the Liberal caucus ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump.  The Daily Debrief Panel with Tom Mulcair, Tim Powers, and Zain Velji.  Drew Dilkens, Mayor of Windsor, Ontario joins guest host Stefan Keyes to give his reaction to Trumps new mandates surrounding border security and immigration policies. Andy Smith, Political Science Professor, University Of New Hampshire joins guest host Stefan Keyes to give his reaction to Trumps inauguration speech. 

Free For All Friday - Hour 1. Host Amanda Galbraith breaks down the biggest stories of the day with Canada's top newsmakers. On today's show: · Casey Babb, Senior Fellow with the MacDonald Laurier Institute and Advisor to Secure Canada breaks down the latest on the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. · CTV News chief political correspondent Vassy Kapelos joins Amanda for a lookahead to Donald Trump’s inauguration. · Rick Bell, Columnist at Post Media gives his opinion on the federal government’s “team Canada” response to possible incoming tariffs from the U.S. Free For All Friday - Hour 2. Hosts from all over the country join the roundtable to discuss the five biggest stories of the week. This week's show features panelists Kim Wright, Principal and Founder, Wright Strategies and Chris Day, President, Winston Wilmont. PANEL TOPICS: Topic 1: Ottawa to unveil initial retaliation plan Monday if Trump uses Inauguration Day to proceed with tariff threats Topic 2:  Who’s in and who’s out of the Liberal leadership race? Topic 3: Team Canada mates no more: How tariff threat put Ford and Smith on divergent tracks - Is the current team Canada approach working? Topic 4: 119-year-old Brazilian woman stakes claim as world's oldest person - Would you want to live to 120? Topic 5: Is it morally wrong if people still have their Christmas decorations or Christmas tree’s still up? When can you stop saying “Happy New Year”?

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt joins Vassy to break down yesterday's discussions between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canada's premiers ahead of the incoming Trump administration.  On todays show:  Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Kirsten Hillman, Canadian Ambassador to the United States. Dan Riskin joins Vassy for our weekly "talk science to me" segment.   The Daily Debrief Panel with Robert Benzie, Marieke Walsh and Laura Stone.  Retired general Tom Lawson, former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Armed forces, breaks down the latest news on ceasefire talks in Israel.  Jessica Smith, weather anchor at CTV Toronto tells us more about an upcoming cold snap expected in some areas of the country. 

David Coletto, Founder and CEO of Abacus Data, shares valuable insights into the political landscape in Canada. He discusses how impending 25% tariffs could impact Canadian businesses and consumers directly. The conversation also touches on the shifting dynamics within the Liberal Party as they seek a new leader. With public sentiment at stake, Coletto reveals polling data that highlights who Canadians prefer in the upcoming leadership race, and he emphasizes the necessity for effective strategy in light of new U.S. challenges.