The Graham Richardson Show - July 17, 2026

The Graham Richardson Show - July 17, 2026

Tim Powers fills in on the Graham Richardson Show - where we talk politics and also have a little bit of fun! You can catch us every single Friday from Noon until 2PM. On today's show: * CTV National News correspondent Heather Wright joins us from Thunder Bay with the latest on the wildfire evacuations. * Could Canada do more to manage wildfire risk? We dig deeper with Paul Kovacs, the Executive Director of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction at Western University. * Bloomberg News Ottawa Bureau Chief Brian Platt has the latest on the Gordie Howe Bridge saga. * Everything you need to know ahead of Sunday's FIFA World Cup Finals with veteran sports writer Arash Madani. * Tricia Smith, a former Olympian and President of the Canadian Olympic Committee, joins Tim to reflect on the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Montreal Olympics. * Tim speaks with Scott Oake, an award-winning sports broadcaster and former Hockey Night In Canada host, about his life after broadcasting and his work in addictions treatment at the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre. * CTV U.S. political analyst Eric Ham offers his takeaways from Trump's primetime TV address last night.

Millions of Canadians under Air Quality Warnings due to Northern Ontario wildfire smoke

Much of Southern Ontario is dealing with poor air quality today, while over a dozen remote communities in Northern Ontario have been evacuated due to out-of-control blazes. Vassy Kapelos speaks with CTV National News Correspondent Scott Hurst and Environment Canada Senior Climatologist David Phillips about the latest developments. On today's show: * Reporters press Prime Minister Carney for more clarity around the deal to open the Gordie Howe Bridge. * Vassy goes 1-on-1 with Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. * Digging deeper on the health impacts of extreme heat and wildfire smoke with Sarah Henderson, the Scientific Director of Environmental Health Services at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. * The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Mike LeCouteur, Rob Benzie, Laura Stone, and Marieke Walsh. * TSN's Matt Cauz has a preview of this weekend's FIFA World Cup Final between Argentina and Spain. * CTV film critic Richard Crouse gives his review of Christopher Nolan's much-hyped Odyssey.

Bank of Canada holds key interest rate, warns of Iran War uncertainty

The Bank of Canada held its key interest rate unchanged today, citing economic growth and a downward trend in inflation. However, BOC Governor Tiff Macklem warned that rate hikes aren't off the table, with global oil prices surrounded by cloudy skies. Vassy speaks with RBC Chief Economist Frances Donald. On today's show: * Questions continue to swirl around the details of Prime Minister Carney's deal to open the Gordie Howe Bridge, as the feds won't say if it will release the full text of the agreement. * The Explainer with Gladstone A.I. co-founder Jeremie Harris: Should Canada be building A.I. data centres? * The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Sharan Kaur, Stephanie Levitz, and Jordan Paquet. * CTV B.C. Bureau Chief Andrew Johnson breaks down what experts are saying about a downturn on overdose deaths in that province. * Digging into today's Monetary Police Report from the Bank of Canada with CTV senior correspondent Judy Trinh.

Feds, Alberta sign MOU with Oil Sands Alliance to advance Pathways carbon capture network

Today's MOU is a key piece of the puzzle to getting a new West Coast pipeline built, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the project is key to her goal of doubling oil sands production. But is the Pathways carbon capture and storage network the best way to bring down oil and gas emissions in Canada? Vassy digs deeper with Professor Chris Ragan, who is the Founding Director of McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy. On today's show: * The Weather Network's Doug Gillham has an update on the heatwave that is hitting Central Canada today. * Vassy chats with The Globe And Mail's Stephanie Levitz about a big shakeup in the top ranks of Carney's PMO. * Money Talk with John Klotz: Stress-testing your financial plan for the worst-case scenario. * The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Jamie Ellerton, Dan Moulton, and Nojoud Al Mallees. * More than 5,000 basements in Ottawa were soaked during a Canada Day torrential rainstorm. And now, many homeowners are realizing they have limited insurance coverage, or even none at all. Vassy is joined by one of the victims, Jennifer Johnston, who is urging homeowners everywhere to check their policies. * New data from Statistics Canada shows that more Canadians are travelling to the U.S. compared to this time in 2025. We sift through the data with travel agent McKenzie McMillan.

Gordie Howe Bridge will open July 27th after Carney agrees to share revenue

Graham Richardson fills in for Vassy Kapelos today, as Prime Minister Mark Carney defends his decision to split toll revenues from the Gordie Howe Bridge with the United States. And now, Canada has acquired the amount of American political approval to finally cut that ribbon. Under the original agreement, Canada would have kept 100% of the tolls until it recovered the cost of constructing the bridge. The Conservatives, however, call it a terrible compromise. AM800 Windsor's Mike Kakuk breaks it all down for us. On today's show: * Move over, Lyme Disease! There's a new tick-born illness that researchers are warning humanity about. Graham checks in with an Ottawa-area couple who experienced it first hand. * Tech Check with tech analyst Carmi Levy: The FCC approves giant mirrors in outer space to harness the Sun's power. * The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Tim Powers, Sabrina Grover, and Shannon Greer. * Economist Don Drummond joins Graham for a conversation about the lack of transparency from the Carney government around Canada's defense spending. * CTV U.S. political analyst Eric Ham examines the life and legacy of controversial U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly over the weekend.