Rosemary Barton

Early Career and Education

Rosemary Barton was born on May 31, 1976, and is originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her post-secondary education began at the Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface, a francophone affiliated college of the University of Manitoba, reflecting her bilingual capabilities. She later earned a degree from Carleton University in Ottawa, a institution renowned for its journalism program. Barton entered the journalism field as a researcher for the CBC's French-language news network, RDI, gaining early experience in a national news environment. Her first on-air reporting role was as a National Assembly of Quebec correspondent for Global News, where she covered provincial politics before rejoining the CBC in 2004.

Upon her return to the CBC, Barton initially resumed the role of a provincial political correspondent in Quebec, similar to her position at Global. In 2007, she transferred to the national Parliament Hill bureau in Ottawa, marking a significant step into federal political journalism. Her work on the Hill involved reporting on daily developments in the House of Commons and interviewing federal politicians. By 2011, she began appearing regularly on the CBC News Network program Power & Politics as its main substitute host, which increased her national profile and prepared her for greater responsibilities.

Host of Power & Politics

Rosemary Barton's tenure as the lead host of Power & Politics began in 2015 following the dismissal of Evan Solomon. She served as the interim host before being officially named the new permanent host on January 5, 2016. Her interview style was frequently praised by media observers for its directness and preparedness, often contrasted favourably with her predecessor. A defining moment early in her hosting role occurred during the 2015 federal election campaign in an exchange with then Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander.

During a panel discussion on the government's handling of Syrian refugees, Minister Alexander attempted to deflect a question by blaming the media, and Barton specifically, for not drawing enough attention to the crisis. Barton responded by calling his statements "completely false," offered to provide clips of previous shows where the crisis had been discussed, and challenged him to admit he wanted to avoid the question. This exchange demonstrated her command of the facts and her willingness to hold powerful figures accountable, significantly boosting her popularity with viewers. Her work on the program was recognized with the Canadian Screen Award for Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Information Program or Series in 2016.

Co-host of The National and Chief Political Correspondent

On November 6, 2017, Barton expanded her role at the CBC by debuting as a co-host of The National, the network's flagship nightly newscast. She joined Adrienne Arsenault, Andrew Chang, and Ian Hanomansing in a novel four-anchor format designed to refresh the broadcast. In this role, she delivered major national news stories and conducted high-profile interviews. Her move to The National led to Vassy Kapelos, formerly of Global's The West Block, succeeding her as the host of Power & Politics. In January 2020, the CBC discontinued the four-anchor format for The National, and Barton transitioned to the newly created position of chief political correspondent for the CBC.

In this capacity, she continues to be a major contributor to The National, most notably as the host of the weekly "At Issue" panel discussion. This segment features political analysts Andrew Coyne, Althia Raj, and Chantal Hébert and is a fundamental part of Canadian political analysis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, from March to July 2020, Barton led the CBC's daily coverage of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's press briefings, providing essential context and analysis during a national emergency. This period confirmed her role as a leading interpreter of federal government actions for the public.

Rosemary Barton Live and Election Coverage

Rosemary Barton launched her own dedicated political affairs program, Rosemary Barton Live, on November 1, 2020. The program replaced The Weekly with Wendy Mesley and was itself a rebranding of the weekend talk series Sunday Scrum which she had previously hosted. Rosemary Barton Live is a live weekly program that airs from 10 a.m. to noon ET on CBC News Network and is simulcast on CBC Television. The show provides a deep dive into the week's political events through interviews with newsmakers, analysts, and panel discussions.

As the CBC's chief political correspondent, Barton has anchored the network's television coverage for multiple federal elections, assuming a role previously held by longtime anchor Peter Mansbridge. She has led the CBC's election night broadcasts and special coverage for the 2019, 2021, and 2025 Canadian federal elections. A key feature of this coverage includes conducting one-on-one interviews with the leaders of all major federal parties. Her steady and informed presence during these high-stakes broadcasts has made her a trusted source for election analysis for millions of Canadians.

• Anchored CBC election night coverage for the 2019 federal election.
• Anchored CBC election night coverage for the 2021 federal election.
• Anchored CBC election night coverage for the 2025 federal election.
• Premiered Rosemary Barton Live on November 1, 2020.
• Hosts the live program Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon ET.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout her career, Rosemary Barton has received significant recognition from her peers and the industry for her journalistic excellence. Her most prominent award came early in her tenure as a permanent host, cementing her status as a leading interviewer in Canadian news. The award recognized the skill and authority she brought to political discourse on a daily basis. She won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Information Program or Series in 2016 for her work on Power & Politics.

Questions about Rosemary Barton

What is Rosemary Barton's current role at the CBC?

Rosemary Barton is the chief political correspondent for the CBC. In this senior role, she anchors her own Sunday morning program, Rosemary Barton Live, and hosts the "At Issue" panel on The National. She also leads the network's special coverage for major events like federal elections and breaking political news. This position makes her one of the CBC's primary voices on national politics.

What is Rosemary Barton's educational background?

Rosemary Barton graduated from the Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface, a francophone affiliated college of the University of Manitoba, and from Carleton University. This bilingual educational foundation in Manitoba and Ontario prepared her for a career in Canadian journalism. Her training at these institutions supported her early work at the French-language news network RDI. This background is reflective of her capability to engage with Canada's political scene in both official languages.

How did Rosemary Barton become the host of Power & Politics?

Rosemary Barton became the interim host of Power & Politics following the dismissal of Evan Solomon by the CBC in 2015. She was officially named the new permanent host on January 5, 2016. Barton had already been appearing on the program as its main substitute host since 2011. Her interview style was praised by fellow journalists, and she gained significant popularity during the 2015 election campaign for a notable exchange with Minister Chris Alexander. At the 4th Canadian Screen Awards in 2016, she won the award for Best Host or Interviewer.

What notable moment occurred during Rosemary Barton's time on Power & Politics in 2015?

A notable moment occurred during the 2015 election campaign when then Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander attempted to deflect a question on Syrian refugees by blaming the media. Barton directly challenged him, calling his statements completely false and offering to provide clips of previous shows where the crisis had been discussed. She insisted he admit he wanted to avoid the question. This response was widely praised and contributed to her popularity and reputation as a tenacious journalist.

When did Rosemary Barton become a co-host of The National and what was her role?

Rosemary Barton debuted as a co-host of The National on November 6, 2017, alongside Adrienne Arsenault, Andrew Chang and Ian Hanomansing. She left her role as host of Power & Politics, succeeded by Vassy Kapelos. In January 2020, she transitioned to the role of chief political correspondent after CBC discontinued the four anchor format. In her current capacity, she continues to contribute to The National by hosting the At Issue panel discussions with commentators like Andrew Coyne and Chantal Hébert.

What is Rosemary Barton Live and when did it start?

Rosemary Barton Live is a Canadian Sunday morning political affairs program that premiered on CBC News Network and CBC Television on November 1, 2020. The live weekly program airs from 10 a.m. to noon ET on CBC News Network and is simulcast on CBC Television. It replaced the previous program The Weekly with Wendy Mesley. This show evolved from her earlier weekend political talk series Sunday Scrum, which was retitled with her name. In this role, she anchors her own Sunday morning news show as part of her duties as chief political correspondent.

Sources and further reading

• Rosemary Barton (Wikipedia)
• Rosemary Barton Live | Shows (gem.cbc.ca)
• Rosemary Barton | School of Journalism and Communication (carleton.ca)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-23.