Tim Powers guest hosts for Vassy Kapelos on this Holy Thursday. And according to Deloitte's 2026 economic outlook, Canada's economy will grow by 1.2 percent in 2026. The bad news: That's down from 1.7 percent last year. We gather instant reaction from Deloitte Canada chief economist Dawn Desjardins.

On today's show:

• CTV U.S. political analyst Eric Ham reacts to U.S. President Trump's address on the Iran War.
• Talk Science To Me with CTV Science and Technology specialist Dan Riskin: Last night's Artemis II launch was a grand success!
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Mike LeCouteur, Laura Stone, and Rob Benzie.
• UNIFOR National President Lana Payne on the recent chatter between Stellantis and a Chinese automaker, and where an idle Brampton plant could fit into the equation.
• TSN's Gord Wilson on the razor-thin playoff race in the NHL's Eastern Conference.

Today is the deadline for agreements between the Canadian government and the Province of Alberta under the energy MOU that was signed by Prime Minister Carney and Premier Smith last year. However, to this point, no announcements have been scheduled.

On today's show:

• Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen is set to become the first Canadian to leave low earth orbit if NASA's Artemis II Moon mission takes off as scheduled tonight. CTV Science and Technology specialist Dan Riskin joins Vassy to discuss the upcoming launch.
• Vassy goes 1-on-1 with Canadian Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin.
• The Explainer with Constance Menzies, the owner of Winnipeg-based Chocolatier Constance Popp: Why is chocolate so expensive these days?
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Saeed Selvam, Jeff Rutledge, and Stephanie Levitz.
• CTV's Heather Wright joins us from Cape Canaveral, Florida with the latest on the Artemis II preparations.
• CTV U.S. political analyst Eric Ham previews Trump's primetime address on the Iran War.

Prime Minister Carney is denying reports that he's considered proroguing Parliament if the Liberals secure a majority government in the upcoming byelections. They are slated to be held on April 13th in Ontario and Quebec. Bob Fife from The Globe And Mail joins us with the inside scoop.

On today's show:

• Vassy goes 1-on-1 with newly-named Federal NDP leader Avi Lewis.
• Federal Housing Minister Gregor Robertson discusses the government's move to eliminate the HST from all new home sales.
• Money Talk with John Klotz: Is the financial system more fragile that it used to be?
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Graham Richardson, Laryssa Waller, and Sharan Kaur.
• B.C. Deputy Premier Nikki Sharma discusses the province's push for the federal government to do more on A.I. safety.
• The life and legacy of Stephen Lewis, a former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations and the father of NDP leader Avi Lewis.

Avi Lewis, a former journalist and activist, has claimed a decisive victory in the Federal NDP's leadership race, securing 52% support on the first ballot. He will now serve as the leader of the Orange Crush, but the end result is generating mixed reviews in the Canadian Prairies. Stephanie Levitz from The Globe And Mail breaks down Lewis' victory.

On today's show:

• Vassy chats with Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy about the province's 2026 Budget.
• Tech Check with Carmi Levy: Meta and YouTube found liable in social media addiction trial.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Laura D'Angelo, Tim Powers, and Tom Mulcair.
• Saab CEO Micael Johansson discusses the company's pitch for Canada to buy the Gripen fighter jets over the F-35's.
• The CEO of Air Canada is stepping down after facing controversy over his French-language skills.

Free For All Friday - Hour 1

Amanda Galbraith breaks down the biggest stories of the day with Canada's top newsmakers.

• Liberal MP Michael Ma is in hot water after he appeared to downplay the issue of forced labour during a Parliamentary Committee.
• Canada's New Democrats will be picking a new leader this weekend, as party officials gather in Winnipeg. What direction are the Orange Crush headed, and who is the frontrunner to win the party's top job? We check in with former NDP leader Tom Mulcair.
• As the war in Iran heads into Week 5, the global oil market is in a state of shock. But as the days and weeks drag on, how bad could things get? Amanda digs deeper with Heather Exner-Pirot from the MacDonald Laurier Institute.
• Fresh off a run to the World Series, and don't ask us how it ended, the Toronto Blue Jays are just hours away from starting a new baseball season! It's also their 50th season of Major League Baseball. TSN's Matt Cauz pays us a visit ahead of tonight's Home Opener against the Athletics.

Free For All Friday - Hour 2

Contributors from all over the country join The Roundtable to discuss the top stories of the week. Today’s edition features Beyond A Ballot podcast host Rachael Segal and Enterprise Canada vice-president Laura D’Angelo.

Topic 1: Canada's NDP will choose a new leader this weekend. What’s next for the New Democrats?

Topic 2: Canada's affordability debate: Is the Carney government doing enough to help Canadians struggling with the cost of living?

Topic 3: Michael Ma’s recent Parliamentary Committee controversy begs an important question: Does Canada have a China problem?

Topic 4: We have a case of 'Hoodie Gate' in the B.C. Legislature. Don't worry, we'll explain everything.

Topic 5: HBO’s brand-new Harry Potter reboot.

Canada spent just over $63 billion on defense in 2025, meeting the alliance's funding targets for the first time. We check in with Prime Minister Carney as the show unfolds.

On today's show:

• Vassy speaks with Christopher Skeete, Quebec's Minister of International Relations, about the backlash over Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau's English-only response to the fatal LaGuardia Airport crash.
• Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe discusses the push from some provinces to have more say over judicial appointments.
• Talk Science To Me with CTV Science and Technology specialist Dan Riskin: Why neutrality is key to changing group consensus.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Graham Richardson, Laura Stone, and Rob Benzie.
• UOttawa International Affairs Professor Thomas Juneau on the outlook for ending the war in Iran.
• The latest comments from Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on possibly missing an April 1st deadline for agreements under the Alberta MOU.

Wab Kinew says the best thing to do about Canada's high gas prices is to call on the United States to end its war in Iran. We air Vassy's full conversation with Manitoba's Premier.

On today's show:

• Corey Hogan, a Liberal MP and the Parliamentary Secretary to Canada's Energy Minister, talks about the recent progress towards the April 1st Alberta MOU deadline.
• The Explainer with EnPro Chief Petroleum Analyst Roger McKnight: Why are gas prices so different across Canada?
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Stephanie Levitz, Jeff Rutledge, and Laura D'Angelo.
• CJAD's Elias Makos reacts to the French-Canadian backlash that was directed towards Air Canada's CEO.
• CTV's Scott Hurst has the latest on the LaGuardia plane crash investigation.
• New comments from Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand on Canada's role in the Middle East.

The two Air Canada pilots that were killed in Sunday's tragic crash have been identified, as the NTSB assumes control of the investigation. We check in with Tom Clark, Canada's Consul General in New York, and Kathy Fox, a former Chair of Canada's Transportation Safety Board. We also chat with former FAA Safety Inspector David Soucie. And as the show rolls on, we gather the latest on-the-ground developments from CTV's Adrian Ghobrial.

On today's show:

• Canada's Auditor General Karen Hogan joins Vassy to talk about the RCMP's recruitment strategies, the International student program, and the Phoenix Pay System audits.
• Money Talk with John Klotz: What to know about investing in Gold.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Jamie Ellerton, Sharan Kaur, and Nojoud Al Mallees.

An Air Canada jet was carrying 72 passengers from Montreal’s Pierre-Elliott Trudeau Airport to New York on Sunday night. But as the flight crew made landing just before Midnight at LaGuardia Airport, things spiraled into disaster when the jet collided with a fire truck. CTV's Genevieve Beauchemin delivers the latest updates.

On today's show:

• Conservative Party Campaign Manager Steve Outhouse on Pierre Poilievre's trip to the United States, and his pit-stop appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience.
• Tech Check with tech analyst Carmi Levy: Can firefighting drones suppress a blaze before humans arrive?
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Tim Powers, Tom Mulcair, and Zain Velji.
• Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe on Saskatchewan's looming budget deficit, and how the Iran War could impact Canadian farmers.

Free For All Friday - Hour 1

Amanda Galbraith breaks down the biggest stories of the day with Canada's top newsmakers.

• Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre appeared on the highly-popular Joe Rogan Experience this week. Will this podcast appearance help him politically, both in Canada and in the States? Did it help Canada's image in a testy trade war with Trump? Postmedia’s Brian Lilley dissects the key highlights.
• Alberta is moving to restrict MAiD with new legislation. We dig deeper with Inclusion Canada CEO Krista Carr, a disability advocacy organization which supports the move.
• Five years and billions of dollars later, Meta is putting the Metaverse on the backburner. Tech analyst Carmi Levy explains why that matters.

Free For All Friday - Hour 2

Contributors from all over the country join The Roundtable to discuss the top stories of the week. Today’s edition features Bluesky Strategy Group vice-president Jordan Paquet and Canadian Shield Institute managing director Vass Bednar.

Topic 1: Pierre Poilievre’s Joe Rogan Experience: How the leader of Canada's Conservatives handled his appearance on the world’s biggest podcast.

Topic 2: Ontario Premier Doug Ford made waves this week when he congratulated a homeowner for shooting a robber who broke in. Our panelists dig into those comments, as well as the wider issue of rising crime.

Topic 3: Canada has slipped to 25th in the World Happiness Rankings, according to this year’s World Happiness Report. So why exactly is that frown not turning upside down as often?

Topic 4: This Hour Has 22 Minutes recently made a spoof of 'The Pitt', a rising star in today's TV series lineup. The skit itself made fun of Canadian healthcare. Good satire or done in poor taste?