Not every journalist makes a government minister sweat on live television. Rosemary Barton does.
Rosemary Barton, born on May 31, 1976 (49 years old) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is one of the most recognized faces in Canadian news. She is the chief political correspondent for CBC News and the first woman to ever hold that title.
She has spent over two decades covering the biggest political stories in Canada. From the Quebec legislature to Parliament Hill, she has always been right where the action is. She is best known for her sharp interview style, her calm confidence on screen, and her ability to hold powerful people accountable.
One of her most talked about moments came when she publicly challenged a senior government minister on live television over the Syrian refugee crisis. She called out his false statements without hesitation. That moment made all of Canada sit up and pay attention.
Keep on reading Rosemary Barton’s Wiki and get to know more about her life, husband, children, family, education, career, awards, net worth, height, weight, facts and more.
Rosemary Barton Wiki & Early Life
| Full Name | Rosemary Barton |
| Profession | Journalist, Political Correspondent & TV Host |
| Age | 49 years old |
| Date of Birth | May 31, 1976 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Birthplace | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Current Address | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
Rosemary Barton Husband & Children
Rosemary Barton keeps her personal life simple and private.
She is happily married to Mark Flintoff, a public servant based in Ottawa. The couple shares a quiet life away from the cameras and the political noise. Together they have one daughter. Rosemary has always kept her daughter’s name and details away from the public eye. She believes in protecting her family’s privacy and that is a choice many people deeply respect.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Husband | Mark Flintoff |
| Children | One daughter |
Rosemary Barton Family
Behind every strong woman is a family that shaped her well.
Rosemary’s mother, Mary Barton, is a beloved early childhood educator. She worked for over 30 years at the Riverview Ashland Child Care Centre in Winnipeg. She was so deeply loved by the community that an honorary street in Winnipeg was named after her. Mary was known for teaching young women to be strong. It is easy to see where Rosemary gets her courage from.
Rosemary was named after her grandmother Rose and her mother Mary. That is a beautiful detail that speaks to how close this family truly is.
Her father’s name is yet to be updated. She grew up alongside one sister. Her sister’s name is yet to be updated.
| Parent’s Name | Father: Yet to be updated Mother: Mary Barton |
| Siblings | Yet to be updated |
Rosemary Barton Education
A great journalist is built in the classroom before the camera.
Rosemary Barton started her academic journey at the Collège Universitaire de Saint-Boniface in Winnipeg where she studied French literature. It was during this time that a political science professor spotted her potential and recommended her for a research job at CBC’s French network RDI. That one recommendation changed everything.
She later moved to Ottawa and attended Carleton University, one of Canada’s most respected schools for journalism. She earned her journalism degree from there and that became the strong foundation of her remarkable career.
Her school name is yet to be updated.
| School | Yet to be updated |
| Alma Mater | Carleton University, Ottawa — Journalism |
| Highest Qualification | Journalism degree, Carleton University |
Rosemary Barton Career
She never planned to be a journalist. But journalism found exactly the right person.
Rosemary Barton started her career simply by saying yes to a small opportunity. She moved to Quebec City after finishing her studies and quickly worked her way up from researcher to general reporter to legislative correspondent. That early grind shaped everything that followed.
Early Start at CBC RDI
Rosemary began her journalism career in Winnipeg as a researcher for CBC’s French news network RDI. It was a humble beginning. But she worked hard and moved forward fast.
Quebec Legislative Reporter (2004)
She rejoined CBC in 2004 as Quebec’s legislative reporter at the National Assembly. She covered Jean Charest’s arrival as Premier and the intense PQ leadership race. She was also one of the first reporters on the scene during the Dawson College shooting in Montreal, reporting live.
Parliament Hill Bureau (2007)
In 2007 she moved to CBC’s national Parliament Hill bureau. She covered federal elections and leadership campaigns and became a trusted name in political reporting.
Host of Power and Politics (2016)
In 2015 she became interim host of Power and Politics after Evan Solomon‘s departure. Her sharp interview style won wide praise. She was officially named permanent host on January 5, 2016. She won the 2016 Canadian Screen Award for Best News Host for her work on this show. She was later succeeded as host of Power & Politics by Vassy Kapelos, formerly host of Global’s The West Block.
Co-Host of The National (2017–2020)
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. This multi-anchor format brought her to an even wider national audience.
Chief Political Correspondent (2020 to Present)
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. She hosted the weekend political talk series Sunday Scrum on CBC News Network, which was retitled Rosemary Barton Live as of November 1, 2020. Barton continues to contribute to The National as host of the “At Issue” panel discussions with political analysts Andrew Coyne, Althia Raj, and Chantal Hébert.
COVID-19 Coverage (2020)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Barton led CBC’s coverage of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s daily press briefings from March to July 2020, keeping Canadians informed through one of the most critical periods in the country’s modern history.
Rosemary Barton Live (2020 to Present)
Rosemary Barton Live is a Canadian television Sunday morning talk show that premiered November 1, 2020, on CBC News Network and CBC Television. It is a live news and talk show covering political topics and replaced The Weekly with Wendy Mesley. It airs Sundays at 10 a.m. ET on CBC News Network and 11 a.m. ET on CBC Television.
At Issue Panel – The National (2020 to Present)
Barton hosts the “At Issue” panel on The National every Thursday, joined by political analysts Andrew Coyne, Althia Raj, and Chantal Hébert. The panel has become one of the most watched political discussion segments in Canadian broadcasting.
CBC News Party Lines Podcast
As Chief Political Correspondent, Barton also hosts a weekly political podcast, CBC News Party Lines, with Buzzfeed News’s Elamin Abdelmahmoud.
Election Anchor
Barton anchored CBC’s election coverage during the 2019, 2021, and 2025 Canadian federal elections, following the retirement of Peter Mansbridge, including one-on-one interviews with the federal party leaders.
She remains one of the most powerful voices in Canadian journalism today.
Here is the information presented as a clean table:
| Year | Role / Show | Details |
| Early Career | Researcher – CBC RDI | Started in Winnipeg as a researcher for CBC’s French news network RDI |
| 2004 | Quebec Legislative Reporter – CBC | Covered the National Assembly, Jean Charest’s arrival as Premier, PQ leadership race, and the Dawson College shooting |
| 2007 | Parliament Hill Bureau – CBC | Covered federal elections and leadership campaigns |
| 2015 | Interim Host – Power & Politics | Took over after Evan Solomon’s departure; won wide praise for her sharp interview style |
| 2016 | Permanent Host – Power & Politics | Officially named permanent host on January 5, 2016; won 2016 Canadian Screen Award for Best News Host |
| 2017–2020 | Co-Host – The National | Debuted November 6, 2017 alongside Adrienne Arsenault, Andrew Chang, and Ian Hanomansing |
| 2020–Present | Chief Political Correspondent – CBC | Transitioned after CBC discontinued The National’s four-anchor format |
| Mar–Jul 2020 | COVID-19 Coverage | Led CBC’s coverage of PM Justin Trudeau’s daily press briefings during the pandemic |
| Nov 1, 2020–Present | Host – Rosemary Barton Live | Sunday morning political talk show on CBC News Network (10 a.m. ET) and CBC Television (11 a.m. ET) |
| 2020–Present | Host – At Issue Panel, The National | Weekly Thursday panel with Andrew Coyne, Althia Raj, and Chantal Hébert |
| 2020–Present | Co-Host – CBC News Party Lines Podcast | Weekly political podcast with Elamin Abdelmahmoud |
| 2019, 2021, 2025 | Election Anchor – CBC | Anchored federal election coverage with one-on-one leader interviews |
Rosemary Barton Awards and Achievements
Hard work always finds its reward. Rosemary Barton is living proof of that.
| Year | Award | Category | Organization |
| 2016 | Winner | Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Information Program | Canadian Screen Awards |
| 2017 | Nominated | Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Information Program | Canadian Screen Awards |
Beyond awards, her greatest achievement is the ground she broke. She is the first woman to hold the position of chief political correspondent at CBC. No trophy could mean more than that.
Controversies
Even the most respected journalists face tough moments. Rosemary Barton had one that shook all of Canada.
| Year | Controversy | Details |
| 2019 | CBC vs Conservative Party Lawsuit | The Conservative Party used CBC news clips in their campaign video titled “Look at What We’ve Done” without permission. Rosemary’s name was initially listed as an applicant in the lawsuit. CBC later removed her name and stated it was the driver of the process, not the journalists. |
| 2021 | Lawsuit Dismissal | The federal court dismissed the lawsuit in May 2021. The Conservative Party called it a clear win for democracy. |
| Ongoing | Online Harassment and Gendered Abuse | Rosemary has openly spoken about being a target of gendered online abuse. She has stated that being a woman makes her a disproportionate target on social media. Hashtags like #DefundCBC and #RosieMustGo have trended against her multiple times. |
Rosemary Barton was caught in the middle of a storm she did not create. She continued covering the election and never stopped doing her job.
Rosemary Barton Net Worth, Salary
Two decades of hard work always adds up to something great.
Rosemary Barton has built a long and successful career at CBC News. As the chief political correspondent and host of multiple shows, she is undoubtedly one of the highest paid journalists in Canadian broadcasting.
However, her exact salary and net worth have never been publicly confirmed or disclosed.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | Yet to be updated |
| Salary (Approx.) | Yet to be updated |
Rosemary Barton Height And Physical Stats
Off camera, Rosemary Barton has a warm and natural look that feels just as real as her journalism.
| Height | In centimetres: 167 cm In meters: 1.67 In feet & inches: 5 ft 6 in |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown / Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Rosemary Barton Instagram, X, LinkedIn
 @rosiebarton | |
| X |  @RosieBarton |
 @rosemary barton |
More News Anchor From CBC News
Interesting Facts About Rosemary Barton
There is always more to know about the people we admire.
- Stumbled into journalism. A political science professor recommended her for a part-time research job at CBC’s French network RDI. That one recommendation changed her entire life.
- Fully bilingual. She speaks both English and French, often conversing with MPs in French and doing live translation on television.
- Coffee and sneakers. She openly describes herself as heavy on the coffee and the sneakers — two things she clearly cannot live without.
- Led COVID coverage for four months. She led CBC’s coverage of PM Justin Trudeau’s daily press briefings from March to July 2020, guiding Canadians through the country’s most uncertain time.
FAQs
Who is Rosemary Barton?
She is CBC’s chief political correspondent and one of the most trusted journalists in Canada. She hosts Rosemary Barton Live every Sunday.
How old is Rosemary Barton?
She was born on May 31, 1976. As of 2026 she is 49 years old.
Where is Rosemary Barton from?
She was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She now lives in Ottawa.
Is Rosemary Barton married?
Yes. She is married to Mark Flintoff, a public servant based in Ottawa.
Does Rosemary Barton have children?
Yes. She has one daughter. She keeps her daughter’s details private.
What show does Rosemary Barton host?
She hosts Rosemary Barton Live on CBC News every Sunday. She also leads the At Issue panel on The National every Thursday.
Is Rosemary Barton bilingual?
Yes. She speaks both English and French fluently.
Does Rosemary Barton have a weight loss story?
Rosemary Barton has not officially spoken about any weight loss journey. Details about this are yet to be updated.
