In mid-November, CTV News editors and anchors gathered around the national assignment desk to pick the top Canadian stories of 2007. Thus began a debate among the news experts who bring you national news programs every day. So passionate are these editors that a debate begat an argument. It went on for more than a month.

Some argued for big-theme stories like the environment and medical breakthroughs. Others fought for stories on the Harper government and tax cuts.

Our chief anchor Lloyd Robertson has a veto on the rankings, as do I as president of CTV News. While an early veto was issued, in the end, the top Canadian stories of the 2007 were quite easy to identify -- although the rankings were more complicated.

The list is a bit unusual this year because it is dominated by criminal trials (Conrad Black and Robert "Willie" Pickton) and police stories (RCMP murders, Tasers, and pedophile hunts in Thailand). Normally a prime minister and his government's achievements or failures are sure bets for inclusion in the top-ten list. But it didn't happen this year even though the Conservatives are governing with a minority Parliament.

The high-flying loonie was the obvious choice as the top Canadian story of 2007. The dramatic rise of Canada's currency affects every single Canadian, which is a key factor in evaluating its inclusion and ranking on the list. Indeed during the autumn, the loonie's climb against the U.S. greenback was the lead story night after night, week after week.

Many Canadians were cheering the loonie's rise, never mind that most of the world's major currencies were zooming upward against Uncle Sam's paper money. Never mind that the loonie was being called, by some, a "petro-dollar," being juiced by Canada's booming oil sands. And never mind that Canadian exporters and manufacturers were being squeezed.

Everybody was talking about it. It was a symbol of swelling national pride, a clear indication that our economy and our productivity is outpacing our friends and neighbours south of the 49th.

The number two story, according to CTV News, was Afghanistan and the loss of Canadian soldiers fighting with NATO against the Taliban in the Kandahar region. This story too, led our newscasts many nights and touched many families and communities.

While there is an active debate in Parliament and in the coffee shops across Canada about the value of the mission, there is very little debate about the heroism and determination of Canada's fighting men and women.

The Canadian combat role in Afghanistan is nearly two years old. Big stories like that tend to fade as the months pass. But not this story. Witness this past year, the impromptu gathering of Canadians on the "Highway of Heroes" bridges in southern Ontario to salute and pay tribute to fallen Canadian soldiers.

Missing from the list this year is global warming and the environment. While this may be surprising to some, CTV News editors have been skeptical about much of the Al Gore hype. While we have reported extensively on the UN's working group on climate change, the "green" movement just didn't seem to move much in 2007. Last week's Bali conference for example, was just so much mush with little real impact.

And for 2008? National elections are on the horizon, possibly in Canada, and for sure in the United States. Afghanistan and Iraq will likely lead international news.

But nobody is predicting the Toronto Maple Leafs, as winners of the Stanley Cup, will make next year's top ten.

The complete list of Top 10 Canadian News Stories:

1. The high-flying loonie
2. Canadian casualties in Afghanistan
3. Media baron Conrad Black's legal saga
4. Chinese product recalls
5. The deadly, and controversial, use of tasers
6. The trial and conviction of Robert Pickton
7. The hunt for Canadian pedophiles in Thailand
8. RCMP shootings
9. Multiple births -- sextuplets, quadruplets -- recorded this year
10. The scandal surrounding former prime minister Brian Mulroney

Beginning on Sunday, Dec. 23, CTV National News at 11 p.m. will feature in-depth reports on each of the Top 10 Canadian News stories in the days leading up to New Year's Day.

CTV's team of top correspondents will take a closer look at each of the major stories, reporting on recent developments and examining the impact they will have on Canadians in the upcoming year. These reports will also air the following day on CTV Newsnet.