Steve Paikin

Speaker's Bio

For more than four decades, Steve Paikin has been a sober voice of rational, fact-based journalism in a world where “alternative facts” too often seem in vogue. He is now the host of The Paikin Podcast, a weekly offering focused on national and international affairs, plus one-on-one interviews. 

For 19 seasons, he hosted The Agenda with Steve Paikin on TVO, the Ontario public broadcaster’s flagship nightly current affairs program.

He continues to co-host the #onpoli podcast, focusing on provincial affairs, with his pal John Michael McGrath. That program, which began its sixth season in September 2025, airs Fridays at 8 and 11 pm on TVO, and is also available on YouTube and all podcasting platforms.

Steve also writes a weekly column during the broadcast season for tvo’s website, tvo.org. He also writes a bi-weekly interview column for the Toronto Star. 

Steve has also written ten books, including biographies on former Ontario premiers Bill Davis and John Robarts, former prime minister John Turner, and Canadian politics in general.

Steve’s strictly non-partisan approach to covering politics has resulted in his having been asked to moderate four federal election leaders’ debates and five Ontario provincial election leaders’ debates.

Steve was born in Hamilton, Ontario, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Victoria University at the University of Toronto, and his Master’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism at Boston University. He has been granted honorary doctorates at Laurentian University (2012), Victoria University at the University of Toronto, McMaster University (2016), York University (2017), and Toronto Metropolitan University (2025), plus honorary diplomas at Humber College (2017), Centennial College (2018), Mohawk College (2018), and Fanshawe College. 

Steve was invested as an officer of the Order of Canada by Governor General David Johnston, and a member of the Order of Ontario by Lieutenant Governor David Onley, both in 2013. In 2025, Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont presented him with a King Charles III Coronation Medal. In 2012, Victoria Tennant presented him with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2025, the Public Policy Forum gave him the lifetime achievement award for excellence in journalism.

Steve tends to fall in love with hard luck sports teams. He loves the Toronto Maple Leafs despite no Stanley Cups since 1967. He adores his hometown Hamilton Tiger-Cats despite no Grey Cups since 1999. His patience with the Boston Red Sox finally paid off with four World Series victories in the 21st century.