Free For All Friday - Hour 1

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

• Prime Minister Carney is facing renewed pressure to show progress on trade talks with the United States.
• B.C. Premier David Eby is struggling to deal with the fallout from recent DRIPA court decisions in that province, calling it 'one of the toughest files' he's ever worked on. We dig deeper with Karen Restoule, a Director of Indigenous Affairs and a Senior Fellow at the MacDonald-Laurier Institute.
• How can we achieve a healthy relationship with our screentime? We pick the brain of Dr. Janine Hubbard, a Registered Child Psychologist in St. Johns, Newfoundland.
• The White House Correspondents Dinner is Saturday night, and the face of America says he will be there. CTV U.S. political analyst and former Congressional staffer Eric Ham outlines the significance of Trump's upcoming appearance.

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 public affairs consultant Bob Richardson.

Topic 1: Carney faces growing pressure as we inch closer to the July 1st CUSMA review deadline.

Topic 2: DRIPA and the politics of reconciliation.

Topic 3: What’s causing high school absenteeism in Ontario, and what the solution should look like.

Topic 4: Ontario’s ban on event ticket resellers comes into effect. Will it help?

Stefan Keyes fills in for Vassy Kapelos today, as Prime Minister Carney faces renewed pressure to show progress on trade talks with his American counterparts. It follows a series of testimonies from high-ranking Trump officials in Washington, with USTR Jamieson Greer suggesting there may be retaliation for Canadian provinces who have barred American alcohol from liquor store shelves. CTV U.S. political analyst and former Congressional staffer Eric Ham offers his two cents.

On today's show:

• Vassy checks in with Government House Leader Steve MacKinnon, as the Conservatives call foul on the Liberals' decision to take control of House Committees.
• Talk Science To Me with CTV Science and Technology specialist Dan Riskin: Why the fear of loss serves as higher motivation than potential gains.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Tim Powers, Mike LeCouteur, and Rob Benzie.
• CTV National Ottawa Bureau Chief Graham Richardson reacts to Prime Minister Carney's latest messaging on the trade files.
• CTV Aviation Specialist Phyl Durdey examines the global jet fuel shortage, and what it could mean for your Summer travel plans.

Vassy Kapelos goes 1-on-1 with Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, as U.S. trade officials testify in D.C. today. He also provides an update on how the CUSMA review is coming along.

On today's show:

• The Explainer with H&R Block Canada tax expert Yannick Lemay: What you can, and can't, claim on your 2026 taxes.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Laura D'Angelo, Jeff Rutledge, and Stephanie Levitz.
• Vassy speaks with Chris Severson-Baker, the Executive Director of the Pembina Institute, about their open letter to Prime Minister Carney on the Alberta MOU.
• CTV Vancouver B.C. Legislative Bureau Chief Rob Buffam outlines the political chaos caused by Premier Eby's flip-flop on the DRIPA legislation changes.

The brand-new Canada-U.S. Advisory Council is made up of members from the previous council, on top of some new additions. The newcomers include former Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole, former Conservative Cabinet Minister Lisa Raitt, former Premiers P.J. Akeeagok and Jean Charest, and former Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Ralph Goodale.

On today's show:

• Vassy speaks with a Canadian woman who witnessed yesterday's mass shooting at a popular tourist attraction in Mexico. The incident left one Canadian tourist dead and sent another to the hospital.
• Canadian veterans are calling on the federal government to recognize post-Korean War conflicts as 'war service'. We check in with Mike McGlennon, the Vice-President of the Persian Gulf Veterans of Canada.
• Money Talk with John Klotz: Tax Planning vs. Tax Filing, and what people get wrong.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Laryssa Waller, Sharan Kaur, and Graham Richardson.
• The mRNA vaccine for pancreatic cancer is showing signs of promise in the early-trial stages. We dig deeper with Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at Toronto General Hospital.
• TSN 1200 Ottawa's John Rodenburg brings us up to speed on the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Oilers and Canadiens have drawn first blood in their series, while the Senators are in a 2-0 series hole against Carolina.

According to today's inflation report, the oil supply shock caused by the Iran War has led to a record-high surge in the price of gas in Canada. Vassy speaks with BMO Chief Economist Doug Porter to get his analysis on the latest numbers.

On today's show:

• In a video address to Canadians, Prime Minister Carney says Canada's economic integration with the U.S. is a 'weakness' that needs to be 'corrected'.
• Vassy goes 1-on-1 with CRA Secretary of State Wayne Long, as they dig into the Carney government's affordability policies.
• Tech Check with Carmi Levy: Meta gets warned by dozens of organizations that facial recognition on smart glasses could empower predators.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Tom Mulcair, Bahoz Dara Aziz, and Garry Keller.
• Part 2 of Vassy's interview with Finland President Alex Stubb, as they tackle the EU-US relationship and the future of NATO.

Free For All Friday - Hour 1

Scott Reid fills in for Amanda Galbraith and dissects the biggest stories of the day with Canada's top newsmakers.

• CTV's Vassy Kapelos evaluates where Canada's party leaders stand following Monday's majority ruling.
• After dropping all 3 byelections on Monday, has Pierre Poilievre blown his final chance at becoming Canada's Prime Minister? We take your calls, texts, and emails!
• History, Her Story, Our Story: Looking back on a trio of moments in time.

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 McMillan Vantage vice-president Jeff Rutledge and NorthStar Public Affairs senior advisor Sabrina Grover.

Topic 1: Taking a gander at the political landscape in Alberta and Quebec, which is already making for an interesting 2026 in both provinces.

Topic 2: How Canada's three major parties are looking after Monday's byelections, and the big questions they have to answer.

Topic 3: The looming Canada Post changes, whether Canada should want a new CUSMA deal, and Donald Trump's feud with Pope Leo.

Topic 4: Have you ever worked a job where you thought death was on the table?

Topic 5: Out of this year's Summer flicks, which peaks your interest the most?

Vassy Kapelos speaks with Finland President Alexander Stubb about the American disruptions to the global order, how to respond to it, and the differences in how he and Prime Minister Carney characterize it.

On today's show:

• Adam Chambers, the Conservative MP for Simcoe North, on the continuing fallout from the Liberal majority win and growing calls from the opposition to expand the gas tax relief.
• Talk Science To Me with CTV Science and Technology specialist Dan Riskin: Researchers crack the code on childhood nightmares.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Robert Benzie, Mike LeCouteur, and Laura Stone.
• Shaun Cathcart, a Senior Economist with the Canadian Real Estate Association, on new projections being downgraded in the face of economic uncertainty.

Do you like Tim Powers and his positive Newfoundland vibes? Well, today is your lucky day, as he returns to fill in for Vassy Kapelos this afternoon! But if you're looking for a Newfoundland Regiment scoreboard update, you might have to look elsewhere this time.

On today's show:

• The Carney Liberals have held their first caucus meeting as a majority power. CTV's Rachel Aiello delivers the latest developments from Parliament Hill.
• Hear Vassy's conversation with Energy Minister Tim Hodgson, as the feds prepare to temporarily suspend the excise tax on gas and fuel until Labour Day.
• As the gas tax reprieve kicks in on Monday, how will these measures help Canadian farmers? Is it enough of a helping hand in this grueling economy? We dig deeper with Jill Verwey, the Vice-President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and a fourth-generation farmer.
• The Explainer with retail analyst Bruce Winder: What is surveillance pricing, and why do some people want it banned?
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Laura D'Angelo, Jeff Rutledge, and Stephanie Levitz.
• Ontario is planning to tie high school attendance records to a student's final grades. And while attending class might be critical to learning today's lessons, some think this idea is going a bit too far. We delve into that topic with Kelly Gallagher-Mackay, a Program Coordinator for the Law and Society Department at Wilfrid Laurier University.
• Every single NHL playoff spot has been secured. Most of the Round 1 matchups are set, with a trio of Western Conference battles still up in the air. And as we gear up for Opening Day of the 2026 NHL Playoffs, a trio of Canadian teams are trying to bring Lord Stanley home for the first time since 1993. Joining us from Canada's Capital is TSN 1200 Sens Colour Commentator Gord Wilson.