Rosemary Barton

Early career and education

Rosemary Barton was born on May 31, 1976, and is originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She pursued her post secondary education at the Collège universitaire de Saint Boniface, a francophone affiliated college of the University of Manitoba, and later at Carleton University in Ottawa. Barton began her journalism career as a researcher for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's French language news network, RDI. This initial role provided her with foundational experience in a national newsroom and exposure to French language broadcasting. She then moved to Global News, where she served as a correspondent covering the National Assembly of Quebec. This early experience in Quebec politics provided a detailed foundation in provincial affairs and the workings of a legislative assembly before she moved to the federal stage. Her bilingual education and early work in French media were significant assets in covering Quebec politics for an English language outlet.

Rise at CBC and Parliament Hill

Barton rejoined the CBC in 2004, initially working as a provincial political correspondent in Quebec, the same role she held at Global. This move marked a return to the public broadcaster where she had begun her career. In 2007, she transferred to the national Parliament Hill bureau in Ottawa, marking her official shift to federal political reporting. This promotion placed her at the centre of Canadian political news, reporting on the prime minister, cabinet ministers, and opposition parties. By 2011, she began appearing regularly on the CBC News Network program Power & Politics as its main substitute host. This role increased her visibility and prepared her for greater responsibilities within the network's political coverage team, allowing her to hone her on air interview skills with national political figures.

Host of Power & Politics

Following the dismissal of host Evan Solomon in 2015, Barton was named the interim host of Power & Politics. Her tenure was quickly noted for a direct and firm interview style that was praised by media observers and sometimes contrasted favourably with her predecessor. A defining moment came during the 2015 federal election campaign in an interview with then Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander. When Alexander attempted to deflect a question on Syrian refugees by blaming the media for insufficient coverage, Barton labelled his statements as completely false. She challenged him directly, offered to provide clips of previous shows where the crisis had been discussed, and pressed him to admit he wanted to avoid the question. On January 5, 2016, she was officially named the permanent host of the show. That same year, she won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Information Program or Series, cementing her reputation as a leading political interviewer.

Co host of The National and chief correspondent role

On November 6, 2017, Barton debuted as one of four co hosts of CBC's flagship nightly newscast, The National, alongside Adrienne Arsenault, Andrew Chang and Ian Hanomansing. She was succeeded as host of Power & Politics by Vassy Kapelos, formerly host of Global's The West Block. In January 2020, CBC discontinued the four anchor format for The National, and Barton transitioned to the newly created role of chief political correspondent for CBC News. In this capacity, she continues to be a major contributor to The National, most notably as the moderator of the weekly 'At Issue' political panel featuring commentators Andrew Coyne, Althia Raj and Chantal Hebert. During the first wave of the COVID 19 pandemic in 2020, she led CBC's daily coverage of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's press briefings from March to July, providing context and analysis during a national emergency.

Rosemary Barton Live and election coverage

Barton's current flagship program is Rosemary Barton Live, a Sunday morning political talk show that premiered on November 1, 2020. It airs live from 10 a.m. to noon ET on CBC News Network and is simulcast on CBC Television, replacing The Weekly with Wendy Mesley. The program delivers a weekly analysis of pressing political news and issues affecting Canadians, described as a weekly dose of need to know political news. As chief political correspondent, Barton has anchored CBC's television coverage of the 2019, 2021 and 2025 Canadian federal elections. She has conducted one on one interviews with federal party leaders, continuing the network's tradition of major election night leadership after the retirement of Peter Mansbridge. Her role involves synthesizing complex electoral information and results for a national audience in real time.

Recent work and ongoing influence

Barton remains a leading voice in Canadian political journalism, moderating the 'At Issue' panel, which is described as the country's most watched political panel. Her program, Rosemary Barton Live, continues to air as of 2026, featuring interviews and discussions on major national and international events, such as the European Union Canada partnership. She has been part of CBC's extensive coverage plans for major events, such as the 2026 Alberta referendum, highlighting her role in explaining complex provincial and constitutional questions to a national audience. Her public profile is such that she has been the subject of parody and cartoon style formats, indicating her recognizable status in Canadian media and culture. Barton's work exemplifies the CBC's mandate to inform and provide a trusted Canadian perspective on news and current affairs.

Notable interviews and journalistic approach

Barton's journalistic approach is characterized by thorough preparation and a willingness to challenge politicians directly. Her interview with Chris Alexander during the 2015 campaign demonstrated her commitment to holding power to account and correcting misinformation on air. As chief political correspondent, she regularly secures interviews with senior political figures during election campaigns and major news events. Her anchoring of election coverage involves not just reporting results but providing context about electoral districts, party strategies, and the implications for governance. This approach ensures her reporting provides depth beyond the headline numbers, helping Canadians understand the broader political landscape.

Questions about Rosemary Barton

What is Rosemary Barton's current role at CBC?

Rosemary Barton is the chief political correspondent for CBC News. In this role, she anchors her own Sunday morning program, Rosemary Barton Live, and hosts the 'At Issue' panel segment on The National. She also leads the network's special coverage during federal elections, breaking news and national emergencies, providing analysis and conducting interviews with political leaders. This position was established in January 2020 after the format change for The National.

What happened to Rosemary Barton on The National?

Rosemary Barton was a co host of The National from November 2017 until January 2020, when CBC decided to end the program's four anchor format. She then transitioned to the role of chief political correspondent. She continues to appear regularly on the program as the moderator of the popular 'At Issue' political panel discussion, maintaining a prominent presence on the flagship newscast. Her successor on Power & Politics when she left for The National was Vassy Kapelos.

Did Rosemary Barton host Power & Politics?

Yes, Rosemary Barton hosted Power & Politics on CBC News Network. She first served as interim host following Evan Solomon's dismissal in 2015 and was officially named the permanent host on January 5, 2016. She hosted the program until November 2017, when she left to become a co host of The National. She was succeeded by Vassy Kapelos. During her tenure, she won a Canadian Screen Award for her hosting work.

What is Rosemary Barton Live?

Rosemary Barton Live is a Canadian Sunday morning political affairs program hosted by Rosemary Barton. It premiered on November 1, 2020, on CBC News Network and CBC Television, airing live from 10 a.m. to noon ET. The program replaced The Weekly with Wendy Mesley and provides a weekly dose of political news, interviews and analysis on issues affecting Canadians. It was still airing as of the 2026 television season and is a key part of CBC's Sunday news programming.

Where did Rosemary Barton go to university?

Rosemary Barton is a graduate of the Collège universitaire de Saint Boniface, a francophone affiliated college of the University of Manitoba located in Winnipeg. She also attended Carleton University in Ottawa. Her education in both French and English language institutions supported her early career in journalism with CBC's French network RDI and in Quebec politics. This bilingual academic background has been integral to her career covering national affairs in Canada.

Has Rosemary Barton won any awards for her work?

Yes, Rosemary Barton won the award for Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Information Program or Series at the 4th Canadian Screen Awards in 2016. This award recognized her work as the host of CBC's Power & Politics, a role she officially assumed as permanent host in January 2016. Her interview style had been lauded by fellow journalists, particularly following a notable 2015 election campaign interview where she challenged a minister's statements. The award cemented her reputation for skilled political interviewing during her tenure on the program, which she hosted before moving to other roles within the CBC.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-23.