Power Play with Vassy Kapelos on CTV News Channel, talking to people and players who dominate the political scene in Canada. Live at 5pmET/2pmPT Monday-Friday

Ottawa
Joined March 2010
Alberta Liberal MP Corey Hogan tells Vassy Kapelos he is "generally satisfied" the White House is not interfering in the provincial referendum.
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"The losers are the Ukrainians, above all," The Atlantics David Frum tells Vassy Kapelos, breaking down why Donald Trump would choose a "useless" Russian energy deal over a minor increase in Canadian diesel.
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CTV Power Play asked for an interview with @ElectionsAB to respond to concerns about invalid ballots, they denied the request because we refused to provide questions in advance. It is CTV News’ policy not to do so, and we stand by that policy.
"If this isn't an emergency, I don't know what is," says NDP House Leader Heather McPherson, pushing back on the Speaker's refusal to grant an emergency debate on the Alberta referendum amid reports of foreign interference and an overwhelmed provincial voting system.
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"If this isn't an emergency, I don't know what is," says NDP House Leader Heather McPherson, pushing back on the Speaker's refusal to grant an emergency debate on the Alberta referendum amid reports of foreign interference and an overwhelmed provincial voting system.
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"It's a little bit like a poison pill," warns Senator Pamela Wallin, accusing the government of strategically bundling a permanent ban on MAID for mental illness with a more popular move to allow advance requests for individuals with serious, capacity-eroding conditions.
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"This is a nonpartisan, deeply personal, very emotional issue," says Liberal Caucus Chair James Maloney, defending his government’s decision to halt the scheduled expansion of MAID to people who suffer from the sole underlying condition of mental illness.
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Secretary of State Stephen Fuhr joins the show to defend the government’s plan to transform the year-old Defence Investment Agency into a Crown corporation, pushing back on criticism that the structural shift is designed to escape accountability.
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Former CAQ Minister Christopher Skeete and former Quebec Liberal Leader Pablo Rodriguez look at the path forward for Quebec after a historic PQ win revives the referendum debate.
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"We have a diversity of views in our caucus," insists Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, defending her decision to not to kick out MLA Jason Stephan from her caucus. Stephan cast a ballot for “option 2” in the Alberta referendum, which is the option for holding another referendum on separation.
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“We are 100% behind the right to strike,” insists Leslie Church, parliamentary secretary to the jobs minister, despite union criticism that Bill C-39 will do the opposite and impede their members right to strike.
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"We have a five-alarm fire with the cost of living right now," says Conservative MP Andrew Scheer, pushing back against claims that federal dental and childcare programs are actually saving families money on day one of the new parliamentary session.
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Government House Leader Steve MacKinnon dismisses opposition claims that his sweeping new omnibus bill is a move to avoid scrutiny, arguing the massive economic package must be passed together to pivot Canada away from the U.S. market.
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"We see the prime minister darting off to Strasbourg to make an announcement that has no particular details attached to it," says Conservative MP Shuvaloy Majumdar, arguing the feds should be focused on exporting more to Europe by building faster at home.
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Vassy asks Minister of Digital Innovation Evan Solomon how Canadians will benefit from the investment summit, and whether execution will be a problem for his government.
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"We need the private capital to come in," says Dominic Barton, calling the government's $1 trillion investment goal ambitious but achievable, while warning Canada must shake up its reputation for being "all hat and no cattle" on project execution.
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BC Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay downplays the exit of nine MLAs who blamed her leadership for their departures, insisting it’s a matter of "growing pains" and a refusal to accept the will of the grassroots party membership.
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"We think it's eminently financeable," Energy Minister Tim Hodgson tells Vassy Kapelos, brushing off industry warnings that Alberta's Pathways Carbon Capture Project is 'unfinanceable' without more government investment; but does not rule out more federal subsidies to make the project viable.
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Justice Minister Sean Fraser says he’s not closing the door on any policy for MAID, and Vassy asks him what his personal view on its expansion is:
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"Canadians are too smart to be tricked …,” Justice Minister Sean Fraser insists when asked by Vassy Kapelos if his government’s new bail law is about addressing a political vulnerability.
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"We're laying track now to hit the 3.5%" says Defence Minister David McGuinty when asked about when his government will detail plans on how it intends to hit defence spending targets.
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