The top newsmakers, political headlines, your go-to daily debrief. Vassy loves politics and she’ll make sure you do too. The Vassy Kapelos Show will keep you informed through hard-hitting interviews with the major players, entertaining analysis and debate with your favourite pundits and all the details and context you need on breaking news as it comes into our newsroom.
Tim Powers guest hosts for Vassy Kapelos, who is taking an extra long weekend to unwind and relax. WestJet flight attendants walked off the job on Sunday before their union reached a tentative agreement with the airline overnight. It wasn't a lengthy stint on the picket lines, but the fallout still has Canadians stranded across the country and abroad. We dig deeper with John Gradek, an airline industry expert and lecturer at McGill University. On today's show: Stranded WestJet passenger Bob Reid joins us live from Winnipeg to share his customer service experience during the strike. Tim speaks with The Globe And Mail's Stephanie Levitz about Canada's long-awaited foreign influence registry, which is taking effect today. Money Talk with John Klotz: The ins and outs of travel insurance. The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Jamie Ellerton, Sharan Kaur, and Nojour Al Mallees. Tech Check with tech analyst Carmi Levy: The AI-supervised exam that went horribly wrong. TSN's Matt Cauz joins Tim to chat about a dismal season for the Toronto Blue Jays, as they did a mixture of buying and tough selling during Monday's MLB Trade Deadline.
Tim Powers fills in on the Graham Richardson Show - where we talk politics and also have a little bit of fun! You can catch us every single Friday from Noon until 2PM. On today's show: CTV's Kamil Karamali has the latest on a possible strike at WestJet this long weekend. Tim speaks with Retired Major-General Tom Lawson about the latest developments in the Middle East. Independent Senator Danièle Henkel talks about Canada's push to boost the CAF reserve force to 30,000 members. Canada's Chef de Mission for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games joins Tim to tee up competition ahead of the event's final weekend. Two major American labour unions are calling on U.S. President Trump to reconsider his new tariffs on Canada. Tim is joined by USW International President Roxanne Brown. How did St. John's, Newfoundland become a hub for tech investment in Canada? Tim speaks with The Globe And Mail's Alexandra Posadzki. Remembering the 1976 Montreal Olympics with Walter Sieber, who was the Director of Sports for those games.
Graham Richardson fills in for Vassy Kapelos. Flight attendants at WestJet could walk off the job on Sunday if their union and the airline don't reach a settlement agreement, putting long weekend travel plans up in the air for thousands of Canadians. Amra Durakovic from Flight Centre Travel Group Canada outlines what travelers should know. On today's show: CTV's Rachel Aiello has the latest on Canada-USA Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc's trip to Washington. Graham chats with Shachi Kurl, the President of Angus Reid Institute, about a new poll that shows climate policy is driving voters away from the Carney Liberals. Not only that, those voters are going straight to the Orange Crush. Talk Science To Me with CTV Science and Technology specialist Dan Riskin: The reasons why not having a defined career plan might be a good thing. The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Marieke Walsh and Rob Benzie. During the 2025 election campaign, the Liberals promised to increase a key tax credit to support the mining sector. The Association for Mineral Exploration say the Carney government has not made good on that promise. Graham speaks with President Todd Stone.
Graham Richardson fills in for Vassy Kapelos. Canadians are learning details of Minister LeBlanc's official trade mission to D.C. this week on social media, as his office is refusing to share any details about his itinerary with the media. Graham chats with CTV National News correspondent Rachel Aiello about what we do know. On today's show: The opposition is demanding answers on the Gordie Howe Bridge deal at a special Parliamentary Committee meeting today. Graham is joined by Shuvaloy Majumdar, a Conservative MP and the Tories' Opposition Critic for Canada-USA Relations. Digging deeper into Canada's trade response with Scotty Greenwood, the founder of Ottawa Street Strategy and a former U.S. Diplomat to Canada. The Explainer with Dr. Brian Wirzba, the President of the Alberta Medical Association: What to know about Alberta's experiment with private healthcare. The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Stephanie Levitz, Sabrina Grover, and Jordan Paquet. Graham speaks with Tim Fleiszer, the Executive Director of the Concussion Legacy Foundation of Canada, about the push to ban heading in kids' soccer. Rob Benzie, the Queens Park Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star, dissects a possible brewing feud between the Carney Liberals and the Ford Ontario PCs.
Graham Richardson fills in for Vassy Kapelos. Canada-USA Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and top trade negotiator Janice Charette are heading to D.C. for meetings today, with a new round of U.S. tariffs set to take effect on August 19th. The Daily Debrief Panel, featuring Sharan Kaur and Jamie Ellerton, debates the government's response to the latest tariff threat. On today's show: Graham chats with Shamira Madhany, the Managing Director for World Education Services Canada, about how changes to the immigration system could address pressures in the healthcare system. It's been one week since a group of Ontario First Nations called for a public inquiry on the government's wildfire response. Graham checks in with Wilfred King, the Head Chief of the Gull Bay First Nation, about why he's demanding answers. Money Talk with John Klotz: Keeping the family cottage in the family. Canada has a new Task Force on Modernizing Government, with a mandate to speed up bureaucracy across the country. Graham chats with Executive Director David McLaughlin about what it hopes to accomplish. CTV"s Judy Trinh joins the show with an update on the Canadian NATO intern who has been accused of espionage.
Graham Richardson sits in for Vassy Kapelos. After weeks of delay and political controversy, traffic finally started flowing across the Gordie Howe Bridge at approximately 11:50AM Eastern Time today. CTV Windsor's Travis Fortnum joins us live from the Canadian side. On today's show: A new national survey has found that 1-in-10 Canadian emergency physicians are leaving the specialty. Graham speaks with Dr. Michael Herman, an ER doctor in Ottawa and a spokesperson for the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians. POLITICO reports that the Carney government is sitting on a proposal from Meta to restore access to news content on its platforms. Professor Michael Geist from the University of Ottawa discusses how the Online News Act fits into the broader trade negotiation picture. Tech Check with tech analyst Carmi Levy: It took OpenAI just one week to notice one of its models had gone rogue and escaped containment. The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Zain Velji, George Soule, and Tim Powers. Proposed changes to the Canada Labour Code are aimed at avoiding costly labour disruptions, such as the 2023 and 2024 B.C. port strikes. We delve into that subject with Derrick Hynes, the President and CEO of the Federally Regulated Employers, Transportation, and Communications. CTV Vancouver's Kraig Krause has the latest on the B.C. wildfire situation.
Tim Powers fills in on the Graham Richardson Show - where we talk politics and also have a little bit of fun! You can catch us every single Friday from Noon until 2PM. On today's show: Diamond Isinger, a former Special Advisor on Canada-U.S. Relations to the Trudeau government, discusses Canada's response to the latest round of American tariffs. Tim speaks with Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham about this week's Council of the Federation meeting in Charlottetown. Remembering the 1976 Montreal Olympics with Greg Joy, who won Silver in High Jump for Canada that year. David Wiens, the President of the Dairy Farmers of Canada, joins Tim for a discussion about supply management. This very topic is at the centre of a new round of Trump tariffs, which are scheduled to take effect August 19th. Ryan Adams from Canadian Blood Services shares an urgent appeal for donors, as blood supply has dropped 20 percent within the last 2 months. Bernadette Shea, the author of ' Thumbin' the Rock: A Newfoundland Hitchhiking Odyssey' , joins Tim for an in-depth chat into her latest work. Tech analyst Carmi Levy discusses how an OpenAI autonomous model 'escaped' containment during a testing exercise, and then hacked into a separate company's systems.
Prime Minister Carney will meet with Canada's Premiers in PEI today, along with Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Canada's top negotiator Janice Charette. The clock is ticking for Canada to avoid a new round of punishing U.S. tariffs, which are scheduled to take effect on August 19th. Vassy speaks with Scotty Greenwood, the founder of Ottawa Street Strategy and a former U.S. Diplomat to Canada, about the stakes at play. On today's show: CTV's Rachel Aiello reports live from Charlottetown with the latest on Carney's meeting with Canadian Premiers. Hear Vassy's exclusive interview with Mark Maki, the CEO of Trans Mountain, who says a new pipeline to B.C.'s coast can and will be built. Talk Science To Me with CTV Science and Technology specialist Dan Riskin: Why men are worse at multi-tasking than women. The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Rob Benzie, Laura Stone, Marieke Walsh, and Mike LeCouteur. Vassy speaks with Blaine Maryniuk, the President and Co-Founder of West Coast Walls, about the incoming Trump tariffs and what they could mean for his business. Based out of British Columbia, they sell wall paper and decals.
Canada's Premiers have gathered in PEI for the Summer meeting of the Council of the Federation. They also met with Prime Minister Carney on Tuesday for an update on Canada's tariff response. While all provincial leaders are preaching unity, some have different views of whether Canada should retaliate or negotiate. Vassy is joined by Erin O'Toole, a former Conservative Party leader and member of the Prime Minister's Advisory Council on Canada-US Economic Relations. On today's show: CTV National News correspondent Rachel Aiello repots live from Charlottetown at the Premiers' Meeting. The Explainer with Ryan Manucha, a Research Fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute: Why is it so hard to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers? The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Laura D'Angelo, Stephanie Levitz, and Jeff Rutledge. UNIFOR National President Lana Payne joins Vassy to discuss how that union successfully secured Canadian manufacturing investment guarantees in its contract negotiations with Ford Motors. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer testified today that CUSMA talks may drag into 2027. We deliver his comments as the show wraps up.
The new U.S. tariffs will come into effect on August 19th unless there is an agreement reached before then, and they will apply to some goods covered under CUSMA that were previously exempt from tariffs. Guest host Tim Powers gathers the details from CTV National News senior political correspondent Mike LeCouteur. On today's show: CTV's Scott Hurst has an update on the ongoing wildfire situation. Could Canada do a better job of managing today's wildfires? Tim checks in with Oakville Fire Chief Paul Boissoneault, who is also a Board Member with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. Money Talk with John Klotz: Is your financial plan built like Apollo 11? The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Sharan Kaur, Jamie Ellerton, and Nojoud Al Mallees. Tim speaks with Abacus Data CEO David Coletto about the latest national polling, and how Canadians view the Carney government's trade negotiation strategy. CTV National News correspondent Rachel Aiello joins us live from Charlottetown, PEI with a midday update on the Premiers' Meeting.
Tim Powers fills in for Vassy Kapelos today, as U.S. President Donald Trump is fuming about the Canadian wildfires. He says he spoke to Prime Minister Carney at Sunday's FIFA World Cup Final about the wildfire smoke that is impacting America's air quality, insisting that Canada should do more to control these violent blazes. CTV U.S. political analyst Eric Ham offers his takeaways from Trump's latest tariff threats. On today's show: CTV National News correspondent Scott Hurst and Environment Canada climatologist David Philips join Tim with the latest on the country's wildfire situation. Tech Check with tech analyst Carmi Levy: New Canadian research finds that A.I. could help better manage wildfire risks. The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Michele Cadario, Jordan Paquet, and Shannon Greer. Ralph Goodale, a former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, reacts to Andy Burnham becoming the seventh U.K. Prime Minister in 10 years. Spain has achieved soccer immortality, wearing down Argentina in Extra Time and securing the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Chiming in with his two cents is veteran sports broadcaster Arash Madani.
Tim Powers fills in on the Graham Richardson Show - where we talk politics and also have a little bit of fun! You can catch us every single Friday from Noon until 2PM. On today's show: CTV National News correspondent Heather Wright joins us from Thunder Bay with the latest on the wildfire evacuations. Could Canada do more to manage wildfire risk? We dig deeper with Paul Kovacs, the Executive Director of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction at Western University. Bloomberg News Ottawa Bureau Chief Brian Platt has the latest on the Gordie Howe Bridge saga. Everything you need to know ahead of Sunday's FIFA World Cup Finals with veteran sports writer Arash Madani. Tricia Smith, a former Olympian and President of the Canadian Olympic Committee, joins Tim to reflect on the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Tim speaks with Scott Oake, an award-winning sports broadcaster and former Hockey Night In Canada host, about his life after broadcasting and his work in addictions treatment at the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre. CTV U.S. political analyst Eric Ham offers his takeaways from Trump's primetime TV address last night.
Much of Southern Ontario is dealing with poor air quality today, while over a dozen remote communities in Northern Ontario have been evacuated due to out-of-control blazes. Vassy Kapelos speaks with CTV National News Correspondent Scott Hurst and Environment Canada Senior Climatologist David Phillips about the latest developments. On today's show: Reporters press Prime Minister Carney for more clarity around the deal to open the Gordie Howe Bridge. Vassy goes 1-on-1 with Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. Digging deeper on the health impacts of extreme heat and wildfire smoke with Sarah Henderson, the Scientific Director of Environmental Health Services at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Mike LeCouteur, Rob Benzie, Laura Stone, and Marieke Walsh. TSN's Matt Cauz has a preview of this weekend's FIFA World Cup Final between Argentina and Spain. CTV film critic Richard Crouse gives his review of Christopher Nolan's much-hyped Odyssey.
The Bank of Canada held its key interest rate unchanged today, citing economic growth and a downward trend in inflation. However, BOC Governor Tiff Macklem warned that rate hikes aren't off the table, with global oil prices surrounded by cloudy skies. Vassy speaks with RBC Chief Economist Frances Donald. On today's show: Questions continue to swirl around the details of Prime Minister Carney's deal to open the Gordie Howe Bridge, as the feds won't say if it will release the full text of the agreement. The Explainer with Gladstone A.I. co-founder Jeremie Harris: Should Canada be building A.I. data centres? The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Sharan Kaur, Stephanie Levitz, and Jordan Paquet. CTV B.C. Bureau Chief Andrew Johnson breaks down what experts are saying about a downturn on overdose deaths in that province. Digging into today's Monetary Police Report from the Bank of Canada with CTV senior correspondent Judy Trinh.
Today's MOU is a key piece of the puzzle to getting a new West Coast pipeline built, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the project is key to her goal of doubling oil sands production. But is the Pathways carbon capture and storage network the best way to bring down oil and gas emissions in Canada? Vassy digs deeper with Professor Chris Ragan, who is the Founding Director of McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy. On today's show: The Weather Network's Doug Gillham has an update on the heatwave that is hitting Central Canada today. Vassy chats with The Globe And Mail's Stephanie Levitz about a big shakeup in the top ranks of Carney's PMO. Money Talk with John Klotz: Stress-testing your financial plan for the worst-case scenario. The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Jamie Ellerton, Dan Moulton, and Nojoud Al Mallees. More than 5,000 basements in Ottawa were soaked during a Canada Day torrential rainstorm. And now, many homeowners are realizing they have limited insurance coverage, or even none at all. Vassy is joined by one of the victims, Jennifer Johnston, who is urging homeowners everywhere to check their policies. New data from Statistics Canada shows that more Canadians are travelling to the U.S. compared to this time in 2025. We sift through the data with travel agent McKenzie McMillan.
Graham Richardson fills in for Vassy Kapelos today, as Prime Minister Mark Carney defends his decision to split toll revenues from the Gordie Howe Bridge with the United States. And now, Canada has acquired the amount of American political approval to finally cut that ribbon. Under the original agreement, Canada would have kept 100% of the tolls until it recovered the cost of constructing the bridge. The Conservatives, however, call it a terrible compromise. AM800 Windsor's Mike Kakuk breaks it all down for us. On today's show: Move over, Lyme Disease! There's a new tick-born illness that researchers are warning humanity about. Graham checks in with an Ottawa-area couple who experienced it first hand. Tech Check with tech analyst Carmi Levy: The FCC approves giant mirrors in outer space to harness the Sun's power. The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Tim Powers, Sabrina Grover, and Shannon Greer. Economist Don Drummond joins Graham for a conversation about the lack of transparency from the Carney government around Canada's defense spending. CTV U.S. political analyst Eric Ham examines the life and legacy of controversial U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly over the weekend.
Tim Powers fills in on the Graham Richardson Show - where we talk politics and also have a little bit of fun! You can catch us every single Friday from Noon until 2PM. On today's show: CTV National News correspondent Kamil Karamali with an outlook on the incoming gas prices, as strikes between the U.S. and Iran (once again) drive up the cost of oil. Supriya Dwivedi, a former Senior Advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and a consultant at Crestview Strategy, discusses what we know about foreign interference in the Alberta separatism movement. While the newly-created Gordie Howe Bridge remains in political limbo, former Windsor-area MP Brian Masse wants to turn the Canadian side of the bridge into a public attraction. He offers his sales pitch on today's program. CTV News senior correspondent Adrian Ghobrial has the latest on the Cyclosporin outbreak in Michigan. Should Canada have a national youth service program? Tim digs deeper with Michael Burns, the Chair of Engage Canada. The Globe And Mail investigative reporter Sara Mojtehedzadeh discusses the disturbing findings of her investigation into lax enforcement of safety and labour rules within the trucking industry. Canada's Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden joins Tim with his takeaways from Canada's debut hosting stint at the FIFA World Cup.
Japan could be one potential Asian market looking to buy Canadian crude oil if Alberta's push for a new pipeline to the West Coast is successful. Vassy goes 1-on-1 with Japan's Ambassador to Canada Kanji Yamanouchi. On today's show: The latest on Prime Minister Carney's trip to Saudi Arabia, the first by a Canadian Prime Minister in 26 years. Vassy goes 1-on-1 with Ukraine's Ambassador to Canada to discuss partnership between our two countries, and the outlook for the ongoing war following this week's NATO Leaders Summit. Talk Science To Me with CTV Science and Technology specialist Dan Riskin: People who live to 100 have one thing in common – and it's not just their diet. The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Brian Platt, Laura Stone, and Rob Benzie. Economist David Rosenberg explains why he thinks the Canadian Loonie could sink to $0.60 USD by the end of next year.
Tim Powers fills in for Vassy Kapelos, as U.S. President Trump says he doesn't see any point in continuing negotiations with Iran. He broke the news to reporters during today's NATO Leaders Summit in Turkiye - 24 hours after the two countries exchanged blows. The development sent the price of oil soaring, and stock markets tumbling, at the opening of North American trading on Wednesday. Retired Major-General David Fraser offers his two cents on a possible path forward. On today's show: CTV National News correspondent Rachel Aiello has a recap of the Canadian storylines coming out of the NATO Leaders' Summit. U.S. and Canadian law enforcement have charged the infamous Bishnoi gang with orchestrating the assassination of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Sing Nijjar in 2023. Joining the program with his analysis is Chris Lewis, a former OPP Commissioner and the present-day public safety analyst for CTV News. The Explainer with Canadian defense policy expert Richard Shimooka: What is the new Defense, Security, and Resilience Bank that Canada is leading? The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Stephanie Levitz, Sabrina Grover, and Jeff Rutledge. CTV National News correspondent Annie Bergeron-Oliver reports from Montreal, where some of the first Chinese EVs have arrived in Canada under a new import quota. TSN senior correspondent Rick Westhead delivers a post-mortem of Team Canada's performance, both on and off the pitch, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Conservatives have lost another seat in Parliament after Prime Minister Carney appointed Quebec MP Richard Martel to Canada's Senate. Also receiving a seat in the Red Chamber is longtime Liberal strategist, and Carney's current Principle Secretary, Tom Pitfield. Vassy Kapelos is joined alongside Stephanie Levitz, a senior reporter with The Globe And Mail's Ottawa Bureau. On today's show: Vassy speaks with John Bolton, a former U.S. Ambassador and National Security Advisor to President Trump, about this year's NATO Leaders Summit in Turkiye. Hear Vassy's 1-on-1 conversation with Grant Isaac, the CEO of Cameco, about the federal government's nuclear strategy. Money Talk with John Klotz: Canadian vs. American stock markets. The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Rachel Aiello, Sharan Kaur, and Jamie Ellerton. Vassy goes 1-on-1 with Tjorven Bellmann, Germany's Ambassador to Canada, about Canada's choice to hire German manufacturer TKMS to supply a new fleet of submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy. Sports broadcaster Arash Madani recaps the United States' elimination from the FIFA World Cup, and the controversy over U.S. President Trump calling FIFA's President to overturn a U.S. player's suspension.
