Financial news topped by a recession that ravaged the economy populated much of CTV News' top 10 list of Canadian news stories for 2009.

The annual list was selected by a panel of journalists led by CTV News' Chief Anchor and Senior Editor Lloyd Robertson.

CTV News President Robert Hurst, speaking Monday on Canada AM, said the deep impact of the global financial collapse felt by Canadians from coast to coast put the recession on top of this year's list.

The economic crisis was the leading Canadian news story in 2008 as well. But there was some competition for top spot this year, with the Swine flu scare seeming to dominate newscasts and newspaper headlines across the country in the latter half of the year.

"A lot of us were stunned and surprised in the middle of the summer when we saw Mexico City closed down by Swine flu -- and then the Swine flu coming to North America," said Hurst. "Actually, H1N1 was number one on our list until two or three weeks ago," when the long waits for endured by Canadians for vaccines and news of flu-related deaths seemed to subside.

Other financial news stories that cracked the top-10 were the massive fraud charges leveled against Earl Jones in Quebec (number 8); Jim Balsillie's bold bid to buy an NHL hockey team and move it from the Arizona desert to Hamilton (number 7); and the collapse of the auto industry (number 5).

"Who ever heard of Pontiac going under? In five, 10 or 15 years, your grandchildren are going to say, 'Grandpa, what's Pontiac?'" said Hurst. "To have the Canadian car industry . . . to be closing and restructuring after 150 years, it's a phenomenon."

The third spot on the list was taken by Canada's mission in Afghanistan, which has been coloured this year with troubling news of a growing Taliban resistance as the 2011 pullout date draws closer, and the death toll of Canadian soldiers reaching 133. "The Taliban resistance has grown and Canadians continue to die," said Hurst. "I think Canadians, for the first time, were getting a sense that maybe we're losing this war."

Beginning Dec. 23, CTV National News will feature in-depth reports on each of the top-10 Canadian news stories, each night leading up to New Year's Day. The stories will be re-broadcast on CTV News Channel the following day.

The complete list of CTV's Top 10 Canadian News Stories for 2009 (with air dates for in-depth reports in brackets):

1. The Recession (Jan. 1)

2. H1N1 / The Swine Flu (Dec. 31)

3. The Afghan Mission (Dec. 30)

4. Newfoundland Chopper Crash (Dec. 29)

5. Car Industry Collapse (Dec. 28)

6. Tori Stafford (Dec. 27)

7. Jim Balsillie's bid for the Phoenix Coyotes (Dec. 26)

8. Earl Jones Ponzi Scheme (Dec. 25)

9. The Olympic Torch Run (Dec. 24)

10. Canadians in Space (Dec. 23)

CTV.ca also features an interactive puzzle which allows visitors to create their own lineup of the year's top stories. Visitors can also add comments to the year's top news stories, as the coverage rolls out over the next 10 days. The CTV Video Player will feature a growing archive of these stories over the holiday season.