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 14, 2023 • 29min
Defending Canadian Airspace - February 13, 2023
MPs Bryan May (Liberal), James Bezan (Conservative) and Daniel Blaikie (NDP) join Michael Serapio with their views on Canada’s defence preparedness, following the U.S. shootdown of an unidentified object over Yukon. We also hear from retired general and former chief of the defence staff Tom Lawson.
Toronto city councillor Paula Fletcher joins Michael Serapio to discuss Mayor John Tory’s decision to resign after admitting to having a romantic relationship with a staffer.
Feb 11, 2023 • 29min
Bail Reform And The Week In Review – February 10, 2023
MPs Greg Fergus (Liberal) and Frank Caputo (Conservative) debate bail reform and a Conservative private member's bill.
Journalists Joël-Denis Bellavance (La Presse), Bob Fife (The Globe and Mail), and Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) analyze the week's top stories on Parliament Hill.
Feb 10, 2023 • 30min
Ontario Optimism Over Health Care - February 9, 2023
Dr.Alika Lafontaine, president of the Canadian Medical Association, talks about health-care funding and this week's meeting of Canada's premiers. We also hear from political observers Ashton Arsenault, Stevie O'Brien, and Mélanie Richer.
Feb 9, 2023 • 30min
Laval Tragedy, Health Funding, State of the Union - February 8, 2023
Political leaders react to the death of two children after a bus crashed into a Laval, Que. daycare.
MPs debate health care and the federal funding offer to provinces and territories: Adam van Koeverden (Liberal), Stephen Ellis (Conservative), and Don Davies (NDP). And we have reaction from Dr. Michael Gardam, the chair of HealthCareCAN's board of directors.
Economists Pedro Antunes (Conference Board of Canada) and Brett House (Public Policy Forum, Munk School, Massey College) analyze the Canadian implications of U.S. President Joe Biden's State of the Union address.
Feb 8, 2023 • 28min
Feds Deliver Health Funding Offer - February 7, 2023
Michael Serapio has full coverage of today's First Ministers' Meeting on health care. Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs discuss the federal offer of $46.2 billion in new spending over 10 years. And we hear from journalists Mia Rabson (The Canadian Press) and Marieke Walsh (The Globe and Mail).
Feb 7, 2023 • 28min
First Ministers' Meeting, Chinese Balloon Downed - February 6, 2023
Dr. Alika Lafontaine, president of the Canadian Medical Association, joins Michael Serapio to discuss tomorrow’s meeting between the prime minister and premiers on health care.
Guy Saint-Jacques, Canada's former ambassador to China, analyzes the U.S. downing of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon.
And political strategists Susan Smith (Liberal), Kate Harrison (Conservative) and Kim Wright (NDP) offer thoughts on the First Ministers' Meeting.
Feb 4, 2023 • 30min
The Week In Review – February 3, 2023
Journalists Robert Fife (The Globe and Mail) and Catherine Lévesque (National Post) weigh in on the federal government's decision to abandon its controversial amendments to its firearms legislation.
Canada’s Auditor General Karen Hogan discusses her appearance before a House committee reviewing the federal government’s COVID-19 support programs.
Alberta’s Finance Minister Travis Toews has more on today’s meeting between Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and her federal and territorial counterparts.
Feb 3, 2023 • 30min
Government Seeks One-Year Delay For MAID Expansion - February 2, 2023
Justice Minister David Lametti joins Michael Serapio to discuss the plan for a one-year delay to the expansion of medical assistance in dying.
And political observers Susan Smith, Sean Murphy, and Peggy Nash debate the latest headlines.
Feb 2, 2023 • 28min
Barton Testifies on McKinsey Contracts - February 1, 2023
Journalists Bill Curry (The Globe and Mail) and Nojoud Al Mallees (The Canadian Press) join Michael Serapio to analyze Dominic Barton's committee testimony on McKinsey federal contracts and his relationship with the Trudeau government.
B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon outlines the province’s priorities ahead of Tuesday’s face-to-face meeting between the prime minister and the provincial and territorial premiers.
Laura Tamblyn Watts, the president and CEO of CanAge, discusses the new national standards for long-term care published by the Health Standards Organization.
Feb 1, 2023 • 27min
Federal Contracts, Drug Decriminalization, Health Reform - January 31, 2023
Journalists Bill Curry (The Globe and Mail) and Nojoud Al Mallees (The Canadian Press) join Michael Serapio to analyze the political debate over federal consulting contracts awarded to McKinsey & Company and other private firms.
Caitlin Shane of the Pivot Legal Society discusses the start of B.C.'s three-year decriminalization project for personal drug possession.
Dr. Jane Philpott, a onetime health minister and current dean of health sciences at Queen's University, offers thoughts on health care reform and the role of private providers.
