Free For All Friday - Hour 1

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

On today's show:

• Another Conservative MP has crossed the floor to join Carney's Liberals, leaving the Red Team one MP shy of a majority government. CTV political analyst Scott Reid takes it all in.
• The federal government says construction on a high-speed rail between Ottawa and Montreal will begin in 2029. Amanda goes 1-on-1 with Martin Imbleau, the CEO of Alto.
• A potential Netflix merger with Warner Brothers is poised to shakeup the entire Entertainment industry, with real-life impacts to TV fans and film connoisseurs. And we are in for an epic plot twist if another streaming service enters this war. Movie critic Richard Crouse chimes in with his two cents.

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 Selvam Public Relations president Saeed Selvam and McMillan Vantage vice-president Jeff Rutledge.

Topic 1: Breaking down the implications of a second Conservative floor-crossing.

Topic 2: The House of Commons has risen for 2025. What did the Carney government accomplish?

Topic 3: Is high-speed rail between Ontario and Quebec a national priority?

Topic 4: Marco Rubio makes a stand on font types.

Topic 5: Has corporate jargon gone too far?

Stefan Keyes is filling in for Vassy Kapelos, who will return on Monday.

On today's show:

• Floodwaters and landslides are wreaking havoc on parts of British Columbia. Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips delivers the details.
• America has seized a Venezuelan oil tanker in the latest stretch of tension escalations. CTV U.S. political analyst Eric Ham reacts to Venezuela's response. Later in the show, we pick the brain of Retired Major-General David Fraser.
• Foreigners who are allowed to visit the U.S. without a visa could soon be required to submit personal information to Homeland Security, ranging from their social media accounts to extensive family history.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Jordan Paquet, Saeed Selvam, and Mike LeCouteur.
• Canadians say holiday impaired driving is getting worse, and most want to see more checkpoints.

Canada's representative in Washington, Kirstin Hillman, is stepping down after spending 6 years on the job. We gather reaction and analysis as the show unfolds.

On today's show:

• Vassy chats with Microsoft President Brad Smith about the company's A.I. investment in Canada, as well as today's data sovereignty.
• The Explainer with Gladstone A.I. co-founder Jeremie Harris: Are today's A.I. fears overblown?
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Laura D'Angelo, Stephanie Levitz, and Sebastian Skamski.
• Bob Rae, Canada's former Ambassador to the United Nations, outlines his concerns surrounding the new U.S. National Security Strategy.
• Government House Leader Steve MacKinnon is accusing the Conservatives of blocking the government's legislative agenda, as the House of Commons gets set to rise for the Winter Break.

The Carney government will not be voting for a Conservative motion which, if approved, would put all MPs on-the-record over the Alberta pipeline MOU. In passing, they also accused the Tories of playing politics weeks before the Christmas season. Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer explains why the motion was delivered to the House of Commons today.

On today's show:

• Vassy speaks with former Washington Post columnist Philip Bump about a batch of U.S. military footage, and how the U.S. President plans to handle it. Back on September 2nd, a military strike was aimed at an alleged drug-smuggling boat, and footage of that strike was expected to be released at some point. However, Donald Trump says that is no longer the case.
• Money Talk with John Klotz: How do you know if you're able to retire in 2026?
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Laryssa Waler, Sharan Kaur, and Nojoud Al Mallees.
• Housing expert Mike Moffatt explains how the Carney Liberals' housing policy matches up against the party's 2025 campaign promises.
• CTV's Judy Trinh has the latest on the federal government's reaction to the new U.S. National Security Strategy.

It's the final sitting week of 2025 for the House of Commons, and the stage is set for one last showdown on pipeline politics.

On today's show:

• Vassy speaks with Canadian Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu about the Algoma steel layoffs and the federal support for affected workers.
• Trevor Halford, the new interim leader of the B.C. Conservative Party, discusses his party's future following the resignation of now-former leader John Rustad.
• Tech Check with Carmi Levy: What Netflix's merger with Warner Bros. really means for Hollywood.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Sabrina Grover, Tom Mulcair, and Tim Powers.
• Green Party leader Elizabeth May says she will no longer support the Carney government in confidence votes following the Alberta pipeline MOU.
• CTV's Scott Hurst has the latest on a possible strike by Air Transat pilots, as a busy holiday travel season quickly ramps up.

Free For All Friday - Hour 1

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

On today's show:

• The FIFA World Cup Draw is unfolding right as we hit the airwaves! But as the biggest worldwide faces gather in Washington, it's not all about soccer. Bob Richardson, a public affairs consultant, unveils the bigger picture at play.
• What’s at stake for Canada in the ongoing CUSMA review? We dig deeper with Goldy Hyder, the President and CEO for the Business Council of Canada.
• Tech analyst Carmi Levy reacts to Australia's U16 social media ban, and explains why 2025 is the year of 'Gen Beta'.

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 Texture Communications president Melanie Paradis and CTV News political analyst Scott Reid.

Topic 1: The CUSMA review is officially underway, as preliminary public hearings kick off in Washington.

Topic 2: Is the 'pay to play' economy coming back to bite Canada's rear-end?

Topic 3: How does the panacea of climate change factor into the present-day Canadian political equation?

Topic 4: Is co-hosting the FIFA World Cup a worthwhile endeavour for Canada?

Topic 5: Based on your Spotify playlist, how old are you?

Steven Guilbeault, Canada's former Environment Minister, says the plan for a new oil pipeline means its impossible for the country to meet its 2030 emissions reduction targets. Not only that, he fears that today's pipeline plan puts Canada's goal of a net-zero economy by 2050 in serious doubt. We kick things off with his one-on-one chat with Vassy Kapelos, as the present-day Liberal MP mulls over his long-term political future.

On today's show:

• B.C. political correspondent Rob Shaw breaks down the resignation of B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad.
• Talk Science To Me with CTV Science and Technology specialist Dan Riskin: How social media makes teenagers 'measurably dumber'.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Brian Platt, Laura Stone, and Rob Benzie.
• Vassy speaks with Michael Bernstein, the CEO of climate thinktank Clean Prosperity, about the impact of the Alberta MOU on federal climate policy goals.

The CEO of Algoma Steel says the Carney government and the Government of Ontario were aware that the company’s business plan included a re-tooling, which would lead to layoffs. This was before the government agreed to provide Algoma with a $500 million loan guarantee to offset the impact of U.S. tariffs. Vassy Kapelos chats with Michael Garcia following the company's decision to lay off 1,000 workers.

On today's show:

• Jason Jacques, the Interim Parliamentary Budget Officer, delivers his analysis of Build Canada Homes and the feds' 2030 emissions reduction targets.
• Retired General Tom Lawson joins Vassy to help answer this week's Explainer question: Why does arctic sovereignty matter?
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Nick McRoberts, Stephanie Levitz, and Jeff Rutledge.
• Vassy speaks with Cindy Woodhouse-Nepinak, the National Chief for the Assembly of First Nations.

Despite the Carney government investing hundreds of millions in financial support to the Canadian Steel industry, Algoma Steel has issued 1,000 layoff notices to workers in Sault Ste. Marie, citing the impact of U.S. tariffs on the sector. Vassy chats with Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker about the potentially dramatic impact to the local economy.

On today's show:

• Tim Anderson, a former Kinder Morgan CEO, chimes in on the business argument for a new oil pipeline in Canada.
• Money Talk with John Klotz: Tax-panning tips to end a crazy 2025.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Laryssa Waler, Sharan Kaur, and Nojoud Al Mallees.
• The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs is raising concerns with present-day federal government policies, which they argue is making it harder for emergency responders to do their jobs.
• Tim Hodgson, Canada's Energy Minister, talks about the consultation process with First Nations groups on a new oil pipeline project.

B.C. Premier David Eby says he's now open to a new oil pipeline through British Columbia, assuming it doesn't go to the North Coast and the tanker ban remains active. We bring you his 1-on-1 conversation with Vassy Kapelos.

On today's show:

• A Nor'easter is tracking for Atlantic Canada on the first day of 'Meteorological Winter'.
• Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham dissects his recent meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
• Tech Check with tech analyst Carmi Levy: Social media companies to be held liable for financial scams under new E.U. rules.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Tim Powers, Tom Mulcair, and Zain Velji.
• Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin chimes in on the Alberta pipeline MOU.
• Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson calls to lift a moratorium on offshore oil and gas exploration.