For more than 40 years, Steve Paikin has been a trusted voice for Canadians seeking perspective and intelligent analysis of current events. He is an award-winning journalist, author, and documentary producer, best known as the anchor of TVO’s former flagship current affairs program, The Agenda with Steve Paikin. In his signature straightforward and humorous way, Paikin’s illuminating keynotes prepare organizations for what’s next. He translates politicians’ words into simple facts — what they’re planning to do, what they’ll probably fail to accomplish, and how this may affect business day-to-day.
Paikin joined TVO in 1992 as the host of their political series Between the Lines. He went on to co-create the Queen’s Park news-magazine series, Fourth Reading, which he hosted for 14 years; to co-host Studio 2 with Mary Hynes, followed by Paula Todd; and to co-create and host Diplomatic Immunity, a weekly foreign affairs show. In 2006, TVO cancelled Studio 2 replacing it with The Agenda with Steve Paikin, which wrapped production in June 2025 after 19 successful seasons.
Prior to TVO, Paikin was an anchor and Queen’s Park correspondent for CBC Television’s Toronto station, CBLT-TV, and host of a daily news and current affairs program on CBC News. He also held various reporting jobs in private radio and print media, including the Hamilton Spectator and Toronto radio station, CHFI, where he was a Toronto City Hall reporter.
Today, Paikin hosts The Paikin Podcast, co-hosts TVO’s #onpoli podcast, and writes a bi-weekly column for the Toronto Star. He is also the bestselling author of nine book, including his most recent, John Turner: An Intimate Biography of Canada’s 17th Prime Minister. He has also produced several feature-length documentaries, including Return to the Warsaw Ghetto, which won the Silver Screen Award at the US International Film and Video Festival and received awards at the Yorkton Film Festival and Shanghai Film Festival.
Paikin has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University. He holds honorary doctorates from McMaster University, Victoria University, Laurentian University, York University, and Toronto Metropolitan University, and honorary diplomas from Humber College, Centennial College, Mohawk College, and Fanshawe College.
In December 2013, Paikin was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and was invested into the Order of Ontario. He has moderated nine federal and provincial elections leaders’ debates, and the longest-serving chancellor of Laurentian University in Sudbury.
