Free For All Friday - Hour 1

Amanda Galbraith breaks down the biggest stories of the day with Canada's top newsmakers. Just don't ask her how she feels about the Micah Parsons trade to Green Bay.

On today's show:

• The United States has imposed new tariffs on imported shipments under $800, threatening some Canadian small businesses.
• The Commission on the Future of Sport in Canada says major changes are needed to protect today's athletes.
• Movie critic Richard Crouse joins us from the Toronto International Film Festival, with his latest movie reviews in hand.

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 Laryssa Waler, a former Director of Communications to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and Bob Richardson, a political commentator and former pollster.

Topic 1: Ahead of Parliament's return next month, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is taking aim at the Carney government’s weaknesses.

Topic 2: Breaking down the Commission on the Future of Sport’s preliminary report.

Topic 3: How does the modern labour movement intersect with Canadian politics in 2025?

Topic 4: Some of your favourite back-to-school memories.

Topic 5: Should there be a minimum age requirement for social media?

A week after Prime Minister Carney removed some counter-tariffs on U.S. goods to 'align' with the Americans, steel producers are questioning why Canada's tariff rate on steel imports remains at only 25%. Vassy Kapelos digs deeper with Francois Desmarais, the Vice-President of Industry Affairs with the Canadian Steel Producers Association.

On today's show:

• The latest developments on Wednesday's school shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
• Canada Post has responded negatively to CUPW's latest offer. CUPW negotiator Jim Gallant replies back.
• Talk Science To Me with Dan Riskin: Bad birth control advice on TikTok, and the science behind pouring the perfect beer.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Hannah Thibedeau and Mike LeCouteur.
• Dr. Isaac Bogoch mulls over the implications of chaos within the CDC's leadership.

Trans Mountain CEO Mark Maki tells Vassy Kapelos that the federal government’s focus should be on maximizing TMX’s existing capacity first, and then think about green-lighting any new pipeline projects.

On today's show:

• As the week winds down, more Canadian federal ministers are in D.C. for scheduled meetings with U.S. officials. CTV senior political correspondent Mike LeCouteur joins us with the latest.
• Financial advisor John Klotz helps answer this week's Explainer question: How do RESPs work?
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Jeff Rutledge, Sabrina Grover, and Brian Platt.
• Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux analyzes the latest demand for Canadian housing, and the heavy workload that lies ahead.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc has traveled to Washington to meet with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Guest host Tim Powers gathers the latest developments from CTV Senior Political Correspondent Mike LeCouteur, who is joining us from D.C.

On today's show:

• Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada has narrowed its search for a new submarine fleet, and it's down to two possible suppliers.
• CTV U.S. political analyst Eric Ham reacts to Donald Trump's decision to expand the use of the National Guard for law enforcement.
• Tech analyst Carmi Levy commemorates the 30th anniversary of Microsoft Windows 95.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Laryssa Waler, Najoud Al Mallees, and Sharan Kaur.
• We kick off back-to-school shopping season with Santo Ligotti, the Vice-President of the Retail Council of Canada.
• CTV National News reporter Garrett Barry joins us live from St. John's, as parts of Atlantic Canada try to fend off burning wildfires.

The most recent national polling by Abacus Data shows the Conservative Party ahead of the Carney Liberals by two points. The last time the federal Tories held any sort of lead was before April's federal election. Vassy Kapelos sifts through the stats with Abacus Data Vice-President Eddie Sheppard.

On today's show:

• Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Europe today, meeting with allies in the hopes of strengthening defense partnerships.
• David Paterson, Ontario's representative in Washington, chimes in on the state of Canada's trade negotiations with the U.S.
• The Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health has issued new guidelines for quitting smoking, recommending against vaping in most cases.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Tom Mulcair, Tim Powers, and Michele Cadario.
• Retired Vice-Admiral Mark Norman analyzes Prime Minister Carney's recent trip to Kyiv.

Free For All Friday - Hour 1

Amanda Galbraith dissects and debates today's biggest stories with Canada's top newsmakers.

On today's show:

• Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada will drop numerous retaliatory tariffs against the United States. However, Canada's tariffs on the auto, steel, and aluminum sectors will remain in place until further notice. We take you live to Canada's Capital, as Carney addresses the media. Then, we gather instant reaction from former Toronto Mayor John Tory.
• Is Artificial Intelligence ruining the art of writing and storytelling? Tech analyst Carmi Levy chimes in on that debate.

Free For All Friday - Hour 2

Hosts from all over the country join The Roundtable to discuss the five biggest stories of the week. Today's edition features Hill and Knowlton senior vice-president Chris Day and Navigator principal Sharan Kaur.

Topic 1: Canada has removed counter-tariffs on some U.S. goods, renewing optimism that meaningful progress is near. However, small businesses are still suffering. If we truly have the best trade deal with America right now, what other cards does Canada have left to play?

Topic 2: As Prime Minister Carney hopes to accelerate trade negotiations with America, the Premier of Saskatchewan is calling on Canada's Big Cheese for steel and aluminum tariff relief.

Topic 3: Ontario's Premier wants homeowners to 'stand their ground' if a stranger enters their home and threatens their safety. However, the laws are much more complicated than that.

Topic 4: The Quebec Liquor Board might be forced to pour thousands of dollars in American alcohol down the drain, as some rejected U.S. booze is set to expire. Got any better ideas? Let us know!

Nearly one-in-five small businesses that are dealing with extra tariff costs report that they will not be able to last more than 6 months if the tariff status quo remains. That's according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. To pour even more salt on those wounds, nearly 4-in-10 small businesses said they would last less than 12 months. We dig deeper with Lauren Sevack, the Chief Administrative Officer for Tripar Incorporated. Then, we turn things over to Corinne Pohlmann, the CFIB's Executive Vice-President of Advocacy.

On today's show:

• CTV's Judy Trinh joins us live from Washington, as Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand meets with U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio.
• Ottawa author Mary Taggart joins the party to update your late-Summer reading list!
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Rob Benzie, Laura Stone, and Graham Richardson.
• Roger Hilton from GLOBESEC outlines the importance of Ukrainian Independence Day, as Ukrainians continue to defend their land.

After CUPE defied a back-to-work order under Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, organized labour groups are calling for that section to be scrapped entirely. Vassy Kapelos speaks with Bea Bruske, the President of the Canada Labour Congress.

On today's show:

• Air Canada has resumed flying! But how long until they return to full strength? We gather the latest developments from CTV's Scott Hurst.
• CUPW chief negotiator Jim Gallant drops by with an update on Canada Post workers, as they return to the bargaining table with the postal service.
• Why are the Toronto Blue Jays so good these days? We tackle that in today's Explainer segment with TSN contributor Domenic Padula.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Sharan Kaur, Jeff Rutledge, and Abigail Bimman.
• Retired General Tom Lawson, who once served as the Canadian Armed Forces' Chief of Defense Staff, examines Canada's role in security guarantees for Ukraine.

Air Canada flights will start resuming in a matter of hours after the union representing flight attendants struck a tentative deal with the airline overnight.

On today's show:

• Pedro Antunes, a Chief Economist with the Conference Board of Canada, analyzes the latest CPI report.
• Monday marked a commanding byelection victory for Canada's Conservatives, as party leader Pierre Poilievre returns to the House of Commons. We gather reaction from CTV's Colton Praill and Nik Nanos from Nanos Research.
• In this week's edition of Tech Stories with Carmi Levy, we delve into body-tracking Wi-Fi. What could possibly go wrong?
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Shakir Chambers, Nick McRoberts, and George Soule.
• Fen Hampson, a Professor of International Affairs at Carleton University, reacts to what came out of Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy.

The Air Canada flight attendants' strike has been ruled illegal. However, the union isn't backing down. Vassy Kapelos chats with a pair of Canadian travelers who have been impacted by canceled Air Canada flights.

On today's show:

• What is Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, and why is it so controversial? We dig deeper with former Canadian Labour Minister Lisa Raitt.
• CTV's Colton Praill has the latest from the Alberta riding of Battle River-Crowfoot, where Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre hopes to secure a brand-new tenure in the House of Commons.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Zain Velji, Tom Mulcair, and Garry Keller.
• Months after the two leaders clashed in Washington, Ukraine's President and America's President reconvene in the exact same spot. Are they any closer to ending the Russo-Ukrainian War? We pick the brain of Canada's former Ambassador to Ukraine.