Chantal Hébert
Chantal St-Cyr Hébert (born 1954) is a prominent Canadian journalist and political commentator known for her insightful analysis of federal and provincial politics. As a national affairs writer for the Toronto Star and a regular panelist on CBC's The National, she is a trusted voice in Canadian media. Hébert's career spans decades, beginning with Radio-Canada and including influential roles at major newspapers such as Le Devoir and La Presse . Her work, which includes two acclaimed books, is distinguished by its focus on Quebec politics and national unity, earning her numerous awards and recognition as an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Early Life and Education
Chantal St-Cyr Hébert was born on April 24, 1954, in Ottawa, Ontario, the eldest of five children to Micheline (Forest) and journalist Jean-Raymond St-Cyr. In 1966, her family relocated to Toronto, where she continued her education in French-language institutions. At age twelve, she was enrolled at École secondaire catholique Monseigneur-de-Charbonnel and later attended Toronto's first public francophone high school, École secondaire Étienne-Brûlé. Hébert pursued higher education at the bilingual Glendon College of York University, graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. This bilingual and bicultural educational background provided a strong foundation for her future career covering Canadian politics in both official languages.
Media Career and Reporting
Chantal Hébert began her media career in 1975 at the Radio-Canada regional newsroom in Toronto. She initially reported on provincial politics at Queen's Park before being appointed to cover federal politics on Parliament Hill for the French-language broadcaster. Her expertise led to senior roles at major Montreal newspapers, where she served as bureau chief for both Le Devoir and La Presse. Hébert's political columns have appeared in numerous publications across the country, including The London Free Press, the Ottawa Citizen, the National Post, and Metro. She currently writes as a national affairs writer for the Toronto Star and as a guest columnist for Le Devoir and L'actualité. Hébert is a regular fixture on television, most notably as a member of the At Issue political panel on CBC Television's The National, hosted by Rosemary Barton and featuring fellow commentators Andrew Coyne and Althia Raj.
The 'Lobster Pot' Story and the 1995 Referendum
In the summer of 1995, Chantal Hébert broke a significant story in La Presse that had a major impact on the Quebec sovereignty referendum campaign. She reported that Quebec Premier Jacques Parizeau, in a June 13 meeting with fifteen foreign diplomats, had characterized the referendum question's guarantee of a partnership offer before declaring sovereignty as a tactical sham. Hébert wrote that Parizeau stated the primary goal was to secure a majority 'Yes' vote, after which Quebecers would be trapped 'like lobsters thrown in boiling water.' When Parizeau, who was in France at the time, could not respond, Deputy Premier Bernard Landry denied the report. Hébert substantiated her story with confirmation from the Belgian Ambassador, Christian Fellens, who was present, and from an official briefing given to Foreign Affairs Canada by the Dutch Ambassador, Jan Fietelaars. This revelation, supported by other off-the-record attendees, significantly hampered support for the 'Yes' side in the closely contested referendum.
Published Works and Authorship
Chantal Hébert has authored two books that examine important moments in Canadian political history. Her first book, French Kiss: Stephen Harper's Blind Date with Quebec, was published by Knopf Canada in February 2007. To write it, she took a two-month leave of absence from the Toronto Star in June 2006. The book was shortlisted for the 2008 Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction. Her second book, co-authored with former politician Jean Lapierre, was released in September 2014. Titled The Morning After: The 1995 Quebec Referendum and the Day that Almost Was, it provides a detailed retrospective analysis of the referendum. This work was shortlisted for the 2015 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing, confirming its value to the understanding of a critical juncture in Canadian confederation.
Honours, Awards, and Recognition
Chantal Hébert's distinguished career has been recognized with numerous honours and awards. In 2005, she received the Public Service Citation from the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada (APEX). The following year, in February 2006, the Public Policy Forum awarded her the Hyman Solomon Award for Excellence in Public Policy Journalism. She was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada on November 23, 2012, a high national honour. In 2008, she delivered the prestigious Michener Lecture at Queen's University. The academic community has also recognized her contributions. She received an honorary degree from the University of Alberta in the spring of 2015, where she also delivered the commencement address. Hébert also holds the position of Senior Fellow at Massey College within the University of Toronto.
Chantal Hébert was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada on November 23, 2012. She received the Public Service Citation of the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada in 2005. In February 2006, she was awarded the Hyman Solomon Award for Excellence in Public Policy Journalism by the Public Policy Forum. She also received an honorary degree from the University of Alberta in the spring of 2015.
- Public Service Citation, APEX (2005)
- Hyman Solomon Award for Excellence in Public Policy Journalism (2006)
- Officer of the Order of Canada (invested 2012)
- Honorary Degree, University of Alberta (2015)
- Shortlist, Edna Staebler Award (2008) for French Kiss
- Shortlist, Shaughnessy Cohen Prize (2015) for The Morning After
Personal Life and Current Role
Chantal Hébert is the mother of two sons. She maintains a high-profile presence in Canadian political commentary through her written work and frequent media appearances. As a national affairs writer, her columns in the Toronto Star and Le Devoir offer analysis on current Canadian events and federal politics. Her regular participation on CBC's The National At Issue panel makes her one of the most recognizable political pundits in the country. Hébert continues to be a sought-after voice on issues of federalism, Quebec politics, and national unity, drawing upon her deep experience in both French and English-language media. Her career demonstrates a commitment to bilingual, nuanced journalism that serves to inform the Canadian public on complex political matters.
Questions about Chantal Hébert
What is Chantal Hébert known for?
Chantal Hébert is a Canadian journalist and political commentator. She is a national affairs writer for the Toronto Star and a guest columnist for Le Devoir. She is a frequent panelist on CBC Television's The National on the At Issue segment. She broke a significant story during the 1995 Quebec referendum and has authored books on Canadian politics.
What did Chantal Hébert report during the 1995 Quebec referendum?
In the summer of 1995, Hébert broke a story in La Presse about the 1995 Quebec referendum. She reported that Quebec Premier Jacques Parizeau told foreign diplomats the guarantee of a partnership offer was a sham. Parizeau stated a 'Yes' vote would trap Quebecers like lobsters in boiling water. The story was confirmed by diplomats and hampered support for the 'Yes' side.
What books has Chantal Hébert written?
Chantal Hébert has authored two books. Her first, 'French Kiss: Stephen Harper's Blind Date with Quebec' (2007), was shortlisted for the Edna Staebler Award. Her second, 'The Morning After: The 1995 Quebec Referendum and the Day that Almost Was' (2014), was co-authored with Jean Lapierre and shortlisted for the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing. Both books analyze critical moments in Canadian political history.
What awards has Chantal Hébert won?
Chantal Hébert received the Public Service Citation from APEX in 2005. She won the Hyman Solomon Award for Excellence in Public Policy Journalism in 2006. She was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2012. Her book French Kiss was shortlisted for the 2008 Edna Staebler Award.
Where did Chantal Hébert go to university?
Chantal Hébert obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1976 from the bilingual Glendon College of York University. Her post secondary education was completed at this Toronto institution. She holds an academic affiliation as a Senior Fellow of Massey College at the University of Toronto. In recognition of her career, she also received an honorary degree from the University of Alberta in the spring of 2015. These academic connections span both her formal education and her later professional honours.
Where can I see or read Chantal Hébert's work?
You can read Chantal Hébert's work as a national affairs writer for the Toronto Star and as a guest columnist for Le Devoir and L'actualite. She is frequently visible on television as a member of the At Issue political panel on CBC Television's The National, hosted by Rosemary Barton. Hébert also regularly participates in various other French and English language television and radio current affairs programs. Her journalistic career has included writing columns for several publications such as The London Free Press, the Ottawa Citizen, the National Post, and Metro. She has also authored books, including French Kiss and The Morning After, which was co written with Jean Lapierre.
Sources and further reading
- Chantal Hébert (Wikipedia)
- Chantal Hébert (trudeaufoundation.ca)
- Chantal Hebert (penguinrandomhouse.com)
- Chantal Hebert (growcanadaconference.ca)
- Chantal Hebert | National Affairs Speaker (nsb.com)
Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-02.
