Stuart Benson

Stuart Benson began covering Parliament Hill in early 2022, reporting on political party apparatuses and fundraising, policing and public safety, women and youth, marijuana, heritage, the Bloc Québécois, and the Green Party. He is also The Hill Times’ regular Party Central columnist. Sign up for the monthly Party Central newsletter at this link.

Benson previously covered local news and municipal politics at The Low Down to Hull and Back News in Wakefield, Que., where he began his professional journalism career in February 2020. He also won a Quebec Community Newspaper Award in 2021 for Best News Story and Best Agricultural Story, as well as winning a Canadian Community Newspaper award for Best Campus News story in 2020.

Despite digital ad advantage, Conservative comms not cutting through Liberals’ ‘macro’ messaging

The Conservatives’ ‘bread-and-butter’ messaging needs a sharper focus on national issues and Liberal failures as governing party keeps lead, says digital strategist Harneet Singh.

news | BY STUART BENSON | May 27, 2026

OLO exits reflect a ‘natural evolution’ from election-ready sprint to long-haul planning, say politicos

Former Conservative campaign manager Fred DeLorey cautions against ‘reading anything into’ the recent departure of Poilievre’s chief of staff and communications director, beyond ‘humans who have lives and careers.’

news | BY STUART BENSON | May 27, 2026

From the Klan to the Convoy: authors warn Canada’s homegrown far right is evolving, not fading

Stephanie Carvin and Amarnath Amarasingam say the COVID-19 pandemic unified a fragmented movement ‘that could easily snap back together’ under the right environment.

news | BY STUART BENSON | May 20, 2026

‘Tell people something they don’t know’: Robert Fife prepares to pass the torch after nearly 50 years on Parliament Hill

As The Globe and Mail’s long-time Ottawa bureau chief eyes retirement this summer, colleagues and political operatives reflect on the fear, respect, and relentless reporting that defined his career.

news | BY STUART BENSON | May 20, 2026

To the moon and back again: Artemis II lands in Ottawa

Canadian astronauts Jeremy Hansen and Jenni Gibson received a warm welcome on May 13 as the Artemis II mission crew made a two-day flyby in the nation’s capital to keep the ‘joy train’ rolling toward humanity’s future among the stars.

feature | BY STUART BENSON | May 15, 2026

Federal Tories chasing ‘magic in a bottle’ with B.C. land issue that may not translate over the Rockies, say observers

National messaging built around B.C.’s property rights debate risks oversimplifying a complex legal reality, while a failure to communicate has ‘ceded the stage to fear and misinformation,’ say pundits.

news | BY STUART BENSON | May 13, 2026

‘It’s a matter of respect’: forest and wildland firefighters battling Ottawa over silviculture classification ‘insult’

The classification that denies forest firefighters the same protections and pension benefits as their urban counterparts will be reviewed, but the focus must stay on preparing for the upcoming fire season, says Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski.

news | BY STUART BENSON | May 12, 2026

Bon Cop Bad Cop: the movie, the show, the Party Central

The Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada, and Bell Media hosted an exclusive red-carpet a pre-premiere screening of Crave’s Bon Cop Bad Cop reboot at the Rogers Centre on May 5.

feature | BY STUART BENSON | May 6, 2026

Tories ‘retaining some juice,’ but Grits close the fundraising gap as parties seek financial longevity

Strategists say the leaders of the Liberal, Conservative, and New Democratic parties will face pressure to maintain enthusiasm as convention excitement and snap-election expectations wanes.

news | BY STUART BENSON | May 6, 2026

Feds’ ‘radio silence’ on fish-farm ban undermining trust, economic reconciliation, say wild salmon and aquaculture advocates

Both sides of B.C.’s salmon aquaculture dispute are demanding answers from Ottawa about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s commitment to his predecessor’s 2029 open-net pen farming ban.

news | BY STUART BENSON | May 6, 2026

May mixers make way for Riverkeeper gala

Up this month: the Canada Strong and Free conference, celebrating Inuit culture at the NAC, and a red-carpet TV series premiere.

feature | BY STUART BENSON | May 4, 2026

Celebrating a double dose of journalist liberty with World Press Freedom Canada’s awards and Sandstone’s SEU shindig

Party Central closed out last month with events featuring the Danish ambassador, David Frum, and World Press Freedom Canada, plus a pit stop at Sandstone Group’s post-lockup Spring Economic Update shindig.

feature | BY STUART BENSON | May 1, 2026

‘I hope I’ve had an impact’: PrimeTime Politics’ Michael Serapio signs off, for now

Former colleagues, politicos, and panellists mourn ‘trusted voices gone silent’ following CPAC’s cancellation of both its English and French-language prime-time news programs and double-digit staff layoffs.

news | BY STUART BENSON | April 29, 2026

Prime Minister Carney’s question protection program?

The Parliamentary Press Gallery wrote to the PM last month, inviting him to return to the National Press Theatre to speak with reporters.

news | BY STUART BENSON | April 29, 2026

From the Sierra Madre to the Rainbow Bistro

Party Central was double-booked on April 23, with a Mexican embassy book launch followed by the 20^th Century Boys’ spring concert featuring a special guest.

feature | BY STUART BENSON | April 27, 2026

It’s giving spring: life science lobbyists pack the Met in support of Ottawa’s at-risk youth

3Sixty Public Affairs, IQVIA, and medical magician Don Husereau pull $6,000 out of the hat for Ottawa Youth Services on April 22 at the Métropolitain Brasserie.

feature | BY STUART BENSON | April 23, 2026