FEATURED HEADLINE
The hot mic incident centered on Rosemary Barton occurred during a CBC broadcast on February 18, 2026. She had finished her on air analysis of Matt Jeneroux's floor crossing from the Conservatives to the Liberals. Immediately after the segment concluded, with the microphone still active, her laugh was captured, followed by the statement, "it's all made up anyway." The remark quickly went viral across social media platforms the following day, drawing widespread attention and interpretation as an off guard comment suggesting that the political analysis she had just delivered was invented or not grounded in fact.
Rosemary Barton serves as CBC's chief political correspondent and frequently appears on programs like The National, providing commentary on federal political developments. In this instance, her explanation of Jeneroux's defection included speculative elements about possible motives, which contrasted with his publicly stated reasons. The timing of the hot mic catch, right after her own words, led many viewers to question the credibility of that analysis and similar CBC reporting. No direct response or clarification from Barton or CBC has been issued regarding the audio clip.
Matt Jeneroux, the MP for Edmonton Riverbend, had earlier indicated he would not run for reelection and explicitly denied plans to switch parties. On February 18, he announced his move to the Liberal caucus, taking on a role as an unpaid special adviser. He explained the decision as stemming from personal reflections during the holidays and alignment with Prime Minister Mark Carney's approach to national unity and international challenges. The switch represented a significant shift for someone elected multiple times under the Conservative banner, prompting strong reactions from those who saw it as a direct betrayal of the voters who supported him in that affiliation.
The combination of Barton's caught remark and Jeneroux's party change has kept the focus on issues of trust in public broadcasting and political accountability. The clip continues to circulate widely, reinforcing existing skepticism toward CBC's role in covering such events.
LIKE OUR WORK?