PrimeTime Politics with Michael Serapio

Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu joins Andrew Thomson for an update on the federal response to Indigenous communities affected by the unprecedented wildfire season. Economists Armine Yalnizyan (Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers) and Randall Bartlett (senior director of Canadian economics with Desjardins) react to the Bank of Canada's decision to raise its benchmark interest rate by...

Michael Serapio and guests discuss David Johnston's committee appearance as special rapporteur on foreign interference. We hear from former intelligence officers Michel Juneau-Katsuya and political observers Garry Keller, James Valcke, and Carlene Variyan. And Government House Leader Mark Holland discusses the Liberal agenda in Parliament as the summer break nears.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault discusses what’s being called an unprecedented wildfire season across Canada. Michael Serapio questions Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller on the federal government’s progress at combating violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people – four years after the national MMIWG inquiry issued 231 calls for justice. Nunavut MLA Janet Pi...

Journalists Susan Delacourt (Toronto Star), Stephanie Taylor (The Canadian Press), and Catherine Lévesque (National Post) join Michael Serapio to look ahead to special rapporteur David Johnston's appearance before a House of Commons committee. Mike Savage, mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality, talks about his city's response to unprecedented spring wildfires. Charlotte Duval-Lantoine, a fell...

Political observers Tim Powers, Susan Smith, and Kim Wright offer their thoughts on the House of Commons passing a non-binding NDP motion calling for David Johnston's resignation as special rapporteur. Auditor General Karen Hogan discusses her report that says the Nunavut government continues to fail in its obligation to protect vulnerable children and youth. Brian Gallant, CEO of Space Canada, ex...

David Macdonald, a senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, joins Andrew Thomson to analyze the latest GDP numbers from Statistics Canada. Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, discusses the federal government's upcoming bill on sustainable jobs. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, co-founder of a cross-party caucus on emerging technology, explai...

Michael Serapio speaks with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith about yesterday's election -- and what comes next in the federal-provincial relationship. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh discusses the call for David Johnston to step down as special rapporteur on foreign interference. And political columnists Rick Bell (Calgary Sun) and Jen Gerson (The Line) analyze the Alberta election results.

MPs Taleeb Noormohamed (Liberal) and Peter Julian (NDP) join Michael Serapio to react to David Johnston's first report as special rapporteur on foreign interference. And Alberta columnist Graham Thomson previews tonight's provincial election results.

Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell joins Michael Serapio to analyze the Alberta leaders' debate. Political observers Garry Keller, Carlene Variyan, and Kim Wright debate the latest headlines. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett responds to Conservative criticism of the federal government's safe drug supply program.

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett discusses the opioid crisis and Conservative calls to redirect funding from safe drug supply to addiction recovery and treatment. Journalists Joël-Denis Bellavance (La Presse), Joanna Smith (Toronto Star), and Marieke Walsh (The Globe and Mail) analyze the latest headlines. And polling expert Eric Grenier (The Writ) looks at the Alberta provinc...

Former CSIS director Richard Fadden joins Michael Serapio to discuss Conservative MP Michael Chong's recommendations to the federal government on protecting parliamentarians from foreign interference. Danielle Robitaille, a criminal defence lawyer and managing partner of Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP, reacts to the federal government's bail reforms. James Trottier, a fellow with the Canadian Glo...

Justice Minister David Lametti joins Andrew Thomson to discuss the government's new bail reform bill (C-48). Former Ontario deputy premier and finance minister Dwight Duncan talks about the fate of a multi-billion-dollar deal to build an electric vehicle battery plant in Windsor. Bernard Lewall of the WestJet Air Line Pilot's Association outlines collective bargaining talks with the airline -- and...

The prime minister has called four by-elections next month. Michael Serapio hears from political observers Garry Keller, Carlene Variyan, and Kim Wright about what to watch for. Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan, the military's chief of professional conduct and culture, provides an update on the work to root out sexual misconduct, misogyny, and racism within the Canadian Armed Forces. And Alex Boyd (Toront...

Journalists Joanna Smith (The Canadian Press), Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Bill Curry (The Globe and Mail) join Michael Serapio to analyze the week's top political stories. And Alberta pollster Janet Brown talks about the provincial election campaign.

People's Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier discusses his push to win a Manitoba byelection in Portage--Lisgar. Political observers Kate Harrison, Susan Smith, and James Valcke debate the byelection campaign and the controversy over Canada's redesigned passport. And Abacus Data CEO David Coletto has new numbers on what voters think about a potential Conservative government headed by Pierre Poil...

Jeff Nankivell, president of the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada and former consul-general in Hong Kong, joins Andrew Thomson to discuss the implications of Chinese interference on Canada's economy and national security. Alexandra Chyczij, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, explains why her organization is urging the Canadian government to declare Russian diplomats persona non grata....

Canada's former ambassador to the United Nations, Henri-Paul Normandin, joins Michael Serapio with his reaction to China's decision to expel Canadian diplomat Jennifer Lalonde Dave Levinthal, editor-in-chief of Raw Story, discuses the verdict of a civil jury in New York, which found former U.S. president Donald Trump sexually abused and defamed journalist Jean Caroll in the 1990s. And Liberal MP N...

MPs Greg Fergus (Liberal), Andrew Scheer (Conservative) and Heather McPherson join Michael Serapio with their views on Canada's decision to expel Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei over foreign interference allegations. We also have analysis from Arthur Wilczynski, a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. Journalists Alex Boyd (Toronto Star) and Eli...

Michael Serapio and journalist Steven Chase (The Globe and Mail) review Alexandre Trudeau's committee testimony on the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. Royal commentator Bonnie Brownlee previews this weekend's coronation of King Charles. And Heidi Rathjen of PolySeSouvient outlines her opposition to the government's latest Bill C-21 amendments.

Michael Serapio questions Treasury Board president Mona Fortier on the agreement between the federal government and the Public Service Alliance of Canada to end the 12-day strike by 120,000 federal public servants. Political commentators Sheila Copps (Liberal), Tim Powers (Conservative) and Mélanie Richer (NDP) debate the latest developments on foreign interference, including Alexandre Trudeau’s c...

Chris Aylward, national president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, joins Michael Serapio to discuss the tentative agreement reached between the union and the federal government. Nicholas Coghlan, Canada’s ambassador to South Sudan from 2012 to 2013, analyzes the crisis in Sudan as the federal government ends evacuation flights. Journalists Tyler Dawson (National Post) and Jen Gerson (The...

Journalists Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star), Stephanie Taylor (The Canadian Press) and Joël-Denis Bellavance (La Presse) analyze the week’s top political stories, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's trip to New York and his keynote address to the Council on Foreign Relations. Marco D'Angelo, president and CEO of the Canadian Urban Transit Association, explains why his organization is asking...

Andrew Thomson speaks with Hisham Mohamed about the chaos in Sudan and his decision to flee by land to Egypt. Wes Winkel, president of the Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association, discusses the government's buyback plan for gun retailers. Liberal MP Michael Coteau explains his concern with the boundary redistribution plan for his Don Valley East, Ont. riding.

Michael Serapio questions Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino about the first phase of the government's firearm buyback program. Political observers Kate Harrison, Greg MacEachern, and Kim Wright debate the latest headlines. Quebec Senator Michèle Audette discusses a special honour bestowed upon her in recognition of her long career fighting and raising awareness about gender-based violence.

Nicholas Coghlan, who served as Canada’s ambassador to South Sudan from 2012 to 2013, discusses the crisis in Sudan and the federal government’s efforts to evacuate Canadians on the ground. Journalist Dave Levinthal, the editor-in-chief of Raw Story, joins CPAC’s Michael Serapio to discuss President Joe Biden’s campaign for a second term as U.S. president. Brian Gallant, CEO of Space Canada, talks...