Steve Paikin, anchor and senior editor of TVOntario’s flagship program The Agenda with Steve Paikin, delivered the 20th annual Dick, Ruth and Judy Bell lecture on November 16 on “The Personal Price of a Political Life.”
The author of four books, the most recent a biography of former Ontario premier John P. Robarts, Steve Paikin is one of Canada’s most accomplished journalists and an astute observer of the political scene. It is a measure of his standing that he was chosen to moderate the leaders’ English language debates in the 2011, 2008 and 2006 federal elections.
Hosted by the Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs, the Bell lecture is one of Carleton University’s signature public lectures. Past speakers have included Dalton Camp, Rick Hillier and Margaret MacMillan.
Having interviewed scores of Canada’s political figures, winners and losers, past and present, Steve Paikin’s lecture illustrated the human dimension of contested politics with examples that were inspiring, touching and salutary.