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:

• Canada's Prime Minister is rearranging his Cabinet ahead of the Christmas Break. CTV political analyst Tom Mulcair and Wright Strategies founder Kim Wright explain what Friday's changes could tell us about Justin Trudeau's next move.
• Our relationship with technology is constantly changing, and look no further than 2024 for some reasonable proof of that. Tech analyst Carmi Levy digests some of this year's top tech stories.

Free For All Friday – Hour 2

Political pundits from across the country join Amanda Galbraith to dissect this week's Top 5 stories. Closing out the pre-Christmas episode is Winston Wilmont President Chris Day and Laura D'Angelo of Enterprise Canada.

Topic 1: Prime Minister Trudeau rearranges the Cabinet chairs again

Topic 2: Trudeau's best efforts to roll with the punches might result in a knockout punch from the Opposition, as the NDP threatens to topple the Liberals and force an early election

Topic 3: Predicting the top political headlines for 2025

Topic 4: Do today's kids have coping problems?

Topic 5: Christmas traditions

The past 12 months have been, to put it one way, absolutely bananas. The events of the past 7 days is further proof of that. On Friday, Canada's Prime Minister prepares to shuffle his Cabinet. But what can we expect as 2025 finally arrives? Joining us for a 4-part Daily Debrief Panel is Toronto Star reporter Robert Benzie, who works at Queen's Park alongside Globe and Mail reporter Laura Stone. She is Globe and Mail colleagues with senior political reporter Marieke Walsh.

In Hour 2, we spread some Christmas cheer with our Christmas Angel segment. Then, we talk science with CTV's Dan Riskin. After that, we talk a little bit of tech with tech expert Carmi Levy. And finally, we turn things over to the listeners, who deliver their bold predictions for 2025.

On behalf of the entire team at the Vassy Kapelos Show, we hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Listen to Vassy's full conversations with Liberal MP's Wayne Long and Ken Hardie as they call for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down. 

On todays show:

• Frank McKenna, Former Canadian Ambassador to the United States joins host Vassy Kapelos to discuss President-elect Trump's latest social media comments about Canada becoming the 51st state. 
• Jonathan Malloy, Professor of political science at Carleton University joins host Vassy Kapelos to answer this weeks 'The Explainer' question on what were to happen if the Prime Minister were to resign, and how prorogation works. 
• The Daily Debrief Panel with Kory Teneycke, Kathleen Monk, and Scott Reid. 
• Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on the federal governments new plan to amplify border security. 

Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Liberal MP Antony Housefather & Liberal MP Helena Jaczek as they call for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland stepped down. 

On todays show:

• Vassy takes your calls on texts on if Justin Trudeau should remain on as leader of the Liberal party. 
• Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux joins host Vassy Kapelos to discuss the newly tabled fall economic statement which reports a deficit of $61.9-billion for 2023-24.
• The Daily Debrief Panel with Shakir Chambers, Saeed Selvam, and Shachi Kurl. 
• Bill Browder, CEO of Hermitage Capital Management, which was the investment adviser to the largest foreign investment fund in Russia until 2005, and close colleagues with Chrystia Freeland joins Vassy to give his reaction to her stepping down. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has announced she's resigning from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet hours before she was set to table the fall economic update. Lori Turnbull, Professor of Political Science at Dalhousie University joins guest host Tim Powers to discuss. 

On todays show: 

• Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Bill Morneau, Former Finance Minister as they discuss whether or not there will be consequences if the deficit is above the projected $40.1 billion.
• Missy Cummings, one of the Navy’s first female fighter pilots, Professor and Director of Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center joins guest host Tim Powers to discuss the mysterious drones reported over the East Coast. 
• The Daily Debrief Panel with Zain Velji and Tom Mulcair. 
• Colton Praill, CTV National News Correspondent joins guest host Tim Powers to discuss where things stand as we enter the lockup for the fall economic statement. 

Free For All Friday – Hour 1

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

On today’s show:

• Bruce Winder, Retail Analyst and Author, on the upcoming GST holiday
• Bacchus Barua, Director, Health Policy Studies, The Fraser Institute, on a new report showing record-long healthcare wait times in Canada
• Dan Kelly, President, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, on a potential inquiry into Canada Post negotiations as the strike continues

Free For All Friday – Hour 2

Hosts from all over the country join the roundtable to discuss the five biggest stories of the week. This week’s panel features host Amanda Galbraith; Garry Keller, Vice President of StrategyCorp; and Karen Restoule, VP at Crestview Strategy and Senior Fellow at the MacDonald Laurier Institute.

Topic 1: Labour minister says Canada Post workers could soon be forced back to work – is this the right answer? Is it coming too late?

Topic 2: Let’s go over the latest on tariffs, Trump, Trudeau, tariffs, premiers, and more

Topic 3: The GST/HST holiday begins Saturday – do you think this will be effective? Could it have been implemented better?

Topic 4: Trudeau makes fresh bid to recruit Mark Carney amid tensions with Freeland – worst breakup in history --What’s the worst, longest, or most extensive breakup you’ve had? What’s the deal with this one?

Topic 5: Do you have a holiday purchase you’ve been saving for the GST break?

Guest host Amanda Galbraith speaks with Jim Bookbinder, Professor of Management Science at the University of Waterloo, on the logistical challenges.

On today's show:

• Bob Fife, Ottawa Bureau Chief, The Globe and Mail, on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reportedly once again making overtures to Mark Carney
• Michael Jarman, the 2024 Microsoft Excel World Championships, explains competitive spreadsheet work and how he got involved
• Phil Gurski, President and CEO, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting — former CSIS Senior Analyst, on the latest in Syria and potential ISIS threats as prisoners get released
• The Daily Debrief Panel with Laura Stone, Queen's Park Reporter, The Globe and Mail and Marieke Walsh, Senior Political Reporter, The Globe and Mail
• Peter Brown, Canada Research Chair in Meteor Astronomy and Professor at Western University, on the peak of the Geminid meteor shower this weekend

Vassy Kapelos speaks to economist Moshe Lander on the impact of this decision and risk of potential US tariffs going into 2025.

On today’s show:

• Jim Gallant (Negotiator with Canadian Union of Postal Works) and Jon Hamilton (Vice President of Canada Post) on the ongoing strike impasse
• The Explainer: Paul Daly, Chair in Administrative Law and Governance at the University of Ottawa explains what a crown corporation is and why we use them
• The Daily Debrief Panel with Scott Reid, CTV News political commentator and former communications director for Prime Minister Paul Martin; Jamie Ellerton, Principal at Conaptus Ltd; Kathleen Monk, Principal Owner of Monk + Associates and former director of communications to Jack Layton.
• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on efforts to connect with American politicians amid looming tariff threat
• Have your say on the potential budget deficit for the federal government

Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Rechie Valdez Minister of Small Business of Canada as they discuss the GST holiday measures being passed in the house and how they come with concerns from small business owners that it won't lead to higher sales.

On todays show: 

• John Manley, Former Minister of Finance, Chair of Jefferies Securities and Senior Advisor at Bennett Jones LLP joins host Vassy Kapelos to look ahead to the tabling of the fall economic statement next Monday, as well as the interest rate decision set to be released by the Bank of Canada tomorrow. 
• Tim Perry, President, Air Line Pilots Association in Canada and Nick von Schoenberg, President, Canadian Air Traffic Control Association joins host Vassy Kapelos to discuss how Canada’s commercial pilots and air traffic controllers are urging the government to launch a review of the aviation sector.
• The Daily Debrief Panel with Shachi Kurli, Shakir Chambers, and Saeed Selvam. 
• Listen to Vassy's full conversation with Vic Fedeli Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade of Ontario as they discuss Ontario's trade mission to Washington as Trump doubles down on tariff threats.

Vassy Kapelos speaks Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen.

On today’s show:

• Steven Flisfeder, Meteorologist, Environment Canada on messy winter weather heading to Ontario and Quebec
• Dr. Stuart Edmonds, Executive Vice President, Mission, Research and Advocacy, Canadian Cancer Society, on a new reporting unpacking growing costs for cancer care
• David Coletto, CEO, Abacus Data, on new polling numbers showing the Conservatives maintaining a comfortable lead
• The Daily Debrief Panel with Tom Mulcair, CTV Political Analyst and Former NDP Leader; Tim Powers, Chairman of Summa Strategies and managing director of Abacus Data.