Introduction
Rosemary Barton (born May 31, 1976) is a Canadian political journalist, currently the chief political correspondent for CBC News.
Early career
Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Barton began working in journalism as a researcher for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's French-language news network RDI before becoming a National Assembly of Quebec correspondent for Global News. She rejoined the CBC in 2004, initially in the same role as a provincial political correspondent she held at Global, before transferring to the national Parliament Hill bureau in 2007.
She began appearing on Power & Politics in 2011 as the program's main substitute host.
Host of Power & Politics
Following the dismissal of Evan Solomon by the CBC in 2015, Barton became interim host of Power & Politics. Her interview style was lauded by fellow journalists, sometimes contrasted favourably against Solomon.
Barton gained popularity following her response to statements made by then-Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander on Power & Politics during the 2015 election campaign, when he attempted to deflect a question on the government's handling of Syrian refugees during a panel discussion by blaming the media (and Barton) for not drawing enough attention to the crisis. Barton called Alexander's statements "completely false," offered to provide clips of previous shows where the Syrian refugee crisis had been discussed, and challenged him to admit he "[wanted to] avoid the question."
She was officially named as the new permanent host of the show on January 5, 2016. At the 4th Canadian Screen Awards in 2016, Barton won the award for Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Information Program or Series.
Co-host of The National
On November 6, 2017, Barton debuted as a co-host of The National, CBC Television's flagship newscast, 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, Barton transitioned to a role as CBC's chief political correspondent after CBC decided to discontinue The National's four-anchor format.
Education
Barton is a graduate of the Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface (an affiliated college of the University of Manitoba) and Carleton University.