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
Dec 9, 2025 • 27min
A Major U.S. Pivot on Foreign Policy – December 8, 2025
Former UN ambassador Bob Rae comments on U.S. foreign policy shifts in regards to Europe and how Canada should move forward with its relationship with the U.S.
Climate scientists Catherine Abreu and Simon Donner discuss their respective decisions to leave the government's Net-Zero Advisory Body after Ottawa's MOU with Alberta.
Former Métis National Council president Cassidy Caron talks about the significance of the return of artifacts held in the Vatican back to Indigenous peoples in Canada and what comes next in their fight to repatriate historical items.
Dec 6, 2025 • 30min
CUSMA and the World Cup – December 5, 2025
The bureau chiefs panel, Robert Fife (Globe and Mail), Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Joël-Denis Bellavance (La Presse) discuss Mark Carney's brief visit to Washington for the World Cup as Donald Trump threatens the CUSMA deal and they talk about Ottawa's strategy around consultation with First Nations after signing the MOU with Alberta.
Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery talks about his province's plan to not comply with the federal gun buy-back program set to be rolled-out across the country.
Dec 5, 2025 • 29min
Who Supports a Pipeline? – December 4, 2025
The strategists panel, Susan Smith, Cole Hogan and George Soule discuss the challenges the government faces in getting First Nations' support for a pipeline to the Pacific coast and debate how realistic the proposal really is.
Polls analysts Éric Grenier (The Writ) and Philippe Fournier (338 Canada) discuss what the polls say about support for the Alberta-Ottawa MOU across the country.
Dec 4, 2025 • 29min
Marc Miller Attracts Controversy in Early Days as Minister – December 3, 2025
Former Toronto mayor and Elbows up for Climate co-chair David Miller outlines his issues with the Alberta-Ottawa MOU and details the types of projects he'd like to see pursued.
Political strategists Martine St-Victor and Jonathan Kalles talk about the comments on the decline of the French language by Minister Marc Miller and the impact of Steven Guilbeault's resignation from cabinet on the PM's popularity in Quebec.
Dec 3, 2025 • 29min
The Prime Minister Faces the AFN – December 2, 2025
Sara Mainville, lawyer and managing partner at JFK Law talks about the Prime Minister's speech to the AFN assembly and whether any concerns over consultations were eased by his remarks.
Former RCMP deputy-commissioner Pierre-Yves Bourduas talks about the logistical challenge that the government faces in enforcing its gun buy-back program as Alberta announces it will not participate.
United Steelworkers Canada President Marty Warren discusses his chat with Industry Minister Melanie Joly today and what supports his union would like to see from Ottawa.
Dec 2, 2025 • 28min
Pipeline Shuffle – December 1, 2025
B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix gives his assessment of Alberta's pipeline proposal and how his province might work with Alberta in other ways to get its energy products to Asian markets.
Calgary-based political science professor Lori Williams and Edmonton-based freelance columnist Graham Thomson discuss what went down at Alberta's United Conservative Party convention over the weekend and how much the MOU helps Premier Danielle Smith politically.
Abacus Data CEO David Coletto provides some insight into how Canadians are feeling about the Alberta-Ottawa MOU.
Nov 29, 2025 • 30min
Pipeline Problems for the PM – November 28, 2025
The bureau chiefs panel, Robert Fife (Globe and Mail), Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Joël-Denis Bellavance (La Presse) talk about Steven Guilbeault's sudden resignation from cabinet and what it says about Mark Carney's command of his caucus.
Laura Jones, president of the B.C. Business Council talks about her organization's support for the Alberta-Ottawa MOU despite the B.C. government's fervent opposition to a new pipeline going through the province.
CPAC journalist Rémi Authier breaksdown the first NDP leadership debate which took place in Montreal yesterday.
Nov 28, 2025 • 30min
Ottawa and Alberta do a Relationship Reset – November 27, 2025
Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson reacts to Steven Guilbeault's resignation from cabinet and responds to concerns about the MOU Ottawa signed with Alberta today.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May laments the resignation of Steven Guilbeault from cabinet and voices her disapproval of Ottawa's MOU with Alberta.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith talks about her province's MOU with Ottawa and what it means for the future of Alberta's energy-based economy.
Strategists Stevie O'Brien and Cole Hogan, talk about the political hurdles Prime Minister Mark Carney must overcome to get support for his new energy policies with Alberta.
Nov 27, 2025 • 28min
New Supports for Steel and Lumber – November 26, 2025
Canadian Steel Producer CEO Catherine Cobden unpacks the latest suite of measures to support the steel industry as it faces crippling U.S. tariffs.
Michael Serapio sits down with Russian dissident and former prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza to talk about the Russia proposal to end the war in Ukraine from the Halifax International Security Forum.
The David Suzuki Foundation's Thomas Green discusses his organization's opposition to Alberta's pipeline proposal to the Pacific coast.
Nov 26, 2025 • 29min
The World Debates a Ukraine Peace Deal – November 25, 2025
Canada's former ambassador to Russia Jeremy Kinsman weighs in on the peace talks concerning the war in Ukraine as European allies propose changes to an initial U.S. plan.
U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D - Delaware) discusses the Canada-U.S. relationship and proposals to end the war in Ukraine from the Halifax International Security Forum.
Mutasim Ali, a lawyer with the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights talks about the ongoing conflict and Sudan and what Canada can do to help.
