Mercedes Stephenson
Ottawa Bureau Chief/Host
Mercedes Stephenson is Global News’ Ottawa Bureau Chief and the host of the network’s flagship national political affairs program The West Block. Leading Global News’ coverage from the nation’s capital, Stephenson interviews the biggest names in Canadian and international politics.
Hailing from Calgary with a background in Military and Strategic Studies, Stephenson has distinguished herself as one of Canada’s foremost voices in political, defence and foreign policy journalism.
Stephenson has covered major political and leadership conventions and scandals, and provided her expertise from around the world while reporting from locales such as Latvia, France, and Washington – travelling with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his inaugural visit to the Trump White House, Afghanistan and Niger – where she was the first television reporter ever embedded with the Canadian Special Operations Forces. Stephenson also spent time as a national columnist, featuring in numerous prominent Canadian publications, and previously hosted multiple political television programs.
Possessing a strong reputation for breaking stories and a passion for holding the powerful to account, Stephenson was the first to reveal the identity and death of Canadian suicide bomber Aaron Driver, for which she earned a nomination for the prestigious Canadian Association of Journalists Scoop Award. Stephenson’s investigative reporting drew the public’s attention to the mistreatment and neglect of Canadian veterans, and her reporting on how the military handles sexual misconduct led to major policy changes in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Stephenson holds a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Calgary where her thesis focused on information operations in Afghanistan. She also studied political journalism at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., interned at the Pentagon and studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for International Studies. Crediting her passion for politics to a fascination with world events and the people behind them, Stephenson applies the same to her personal life, travelling whenever she can to meet new people and experience new places.
Video Archives
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Election over foreign interference would be ‘self-serving’: NDP
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How Alberta Premier Danielle Smith plans to work with Ottawa
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The West Block: June 4, 2023 | Tensions heightened after Chinese warship comes dangerously close to U.S. destroyer in Taiwan Strait
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Exclusive Global News video captures close call between Chinese warship and U.S. destroyer in Taiwan Strait
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The West Block: May 28, 2023 | ‘Albertans don’t want to leave Canada, they want to lead Canada,’ NDP Leader says
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Calgary MP says moderate conservatives face tough decision in Alberta election
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Can Alberta’s NDP flip the conservative vote in battleground Calgary?
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Feds’ bail changes not responsible for violent crime rise: minister
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Will there be a public inquiry into foreign interference? Politicos weigh in
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The West Block: May 21, 2023 | Bail laws change amid rise in violent crime and public inquiry clock ticking
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The West Block: May 14, 2023 | Feds response to Chong case ‘collective failure’, former advisor says
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MP Chong case is federal ‘collective failure’: former national security advisor
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How Alberta wildfires are impacting Smith, Notley campaign trails
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Anand unveils military sexual misconduct reforms
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Tit for tat spat: China hints at further retaliation over diplomat’s expulsion
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New bail reform legislation coming before parliament wraps: Public Safety Minister
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What to watch in the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign
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Trudeau told NATO Canada will never meet defence spending target: Pentagon Papers
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Questions persist around Canadian probe into suspected Chinese police stations
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The West Block: April 16, 2023 | Breaking down Telford’s testimony and the Pentagon documents leak
Author Archives
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Erin O’Toole was targeted by China while he was Conservative leader, source saysErin O'Toole was briefed Friday by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service on the alleged 2021 election interference by China, a source tells Global News.CanadaMay 27
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Sudan crisis: Window closing to evacuate Canadians by air, officials sayCanadian Armed Forces are working with allies to examine land and sea evacuation routes after a Turkish plane was hit with gunfire at Khartoum airfield.CanadaApr 28
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Canadian government was warned for weeks that Sudan conflict was coming: sourcesCanadian, other governments under pressure to evacuate remaining nationals amid temporary ceasefire in Sudan crisis that has killed at least 427 people and injured thousands more.CanadaApr 26
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NDP to push for ‘national public inquiry’ into foreign interferenceConservatives propose limiting the foreign interference inquiry to allegations of meddling by Beijing in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.CanadaMar 1
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‘Far too early’ to say whether object shot down over Yukon came from China: ministerDefence Minister Anita Anand offered a brief description of the object amid questions over whether it could be another suspected Chinese spy balloon.CanadaFeb 11
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Ottawa directing DND to drop appeal of sexual misconduct class action extensionThe Department of National Defence had been seeking to appeal a federal court ruling that would extend the deadline for class-action claimants until Feb. 5.CanadaJan 30
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Hussen defends contract linked to staffer’s sister, won’t rule out rehiring firmThe federal housing minister said his constituency office “followed all the rules” in hiring Munch More Media, and said twice that he was "happy with the services” it provided.PoliticsJan 24
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Hussen’s office gave $93k in PR work to senior staffer’s sister’s foodie firmHousing minister’s office admitted his director of policy’s sister is founder of Munch More Media after being approached by Global News.CanadaJan 20
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Canadian veterans can face a ‘recipe for disaster.’ A new police program aims to help'No matter what struggle it is they’re struggling with, there is something available to help them,' said one of the creators of a new veterans wellness program.CanadaNov 29, 2022
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Reservist who rammed Rideau Hall with truck to ‘arrest’ Trudeau released on day paroleAccording to records released to Global News on Tuesday, the Parole Board of Canada has agreed to release Corey Hurren to a half-way house and allowed him 'leave privileges.'CrimeNov 22, 2022
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Canadian women released from camp for ISIS detainees in SyriaB.C. and Quebec women expected to return to Canada tonight.CanadaOct 25, 2022
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ArriveCAN-related ‘issue’ impacted U.S. crews at border during storm Fiona: Nova Scotia PowerFeds denied Sunday that the power crews from Maine headed to help Canada amid post-tropical storm Fiona were delayed at the border due to the ArriveCAN app.CanadaSep 25, 2022
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Poilievre moves to shake up powerful Conservative Fund boardPoilievre already shaking up the Conservative party machinery after Saturday’s convincing leadership win, installing a new chair of the powerful Conservative Fund board.CanadaSep 13, 2022
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Ottawa orders ‘full and thorough’ probe into veteran assisted dying discussion"If that veteran was close to the edge, that might have been the hair that broke the camel's back," one veteran told Global News. "It's so cavalier with somebody's life."CanadaAug 19, 2022
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‘Deny, delay, die’: Assisted dying discussion renews warnings about gaps in veteran care'We don't know whether this was a policy: whether written or unwritten or being communicated to people,' said a Conservative calling for an investigation into veteran supports.CanadaAug 18, 2022
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Assisted dying incident puts Veterans Affairs’ mental health supports in doubt: advocatesWith many Afghanistan and Iraq veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries, advocates say the need to provide proper care is more important than ever.CanadaAug 16, 2022
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Veterans Affairs says worker ‘inappropriately’ discussed medically assisted death with veteranThe offer was made despite the combat veteran not requesting the procedure or even mentioning the issue to his case manager, multiple sources told Global News.CanadaAug 16, 2022
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RCMP briefed MPs on cellphone spyware risks, foreign interferenceThe RCMP’s head of national security and protective policing warned MPs this week that foreign actors are most likely monitoring their digital devices.CanadaAug 11, 2022
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Canadian military’s special operations members helping train Ukrainians: sourcesDefence Minister Anita Anand says the world is in 'a new and very dangerous phase of this conflict' as Russia's Vladimir Putin attempts to cause 'long-term damage' to Ukraine.CanadaAug 5, 2022
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‘I’m very worried’: Former Tory Senate leader on Poilievre, convoys and the party’s futureConservatives risk "fracturing beyond repair" over its convoy support and fractious leadership contest, says a former Stephen Harper advisor and Conservative Senate leader.PoliticsJun 26, 2022
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Poilievre encourages anti-vaccine mandate protests amid reports of Canada Day rallyPresumptive Conservative leadership frontrunner says he has had no contact with convoy organizers hoping to return to Ottawa on Canada Day.CanadaJun 21, 2022
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‘I will win this’: Charest says Conservatives need a ‘unifier’Former Quebec premier facing long odds after Poilievre campaign claims to have signed up more than 300,000 eligible Conservative leadership voters.CanadaJun 19, 2022
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‘We need answers’: Men detained in bogus Parliament Hill bomb threat demand apologyIn an exclusive television interview with Global News, Parminder Singh and Manveer Singh say they want answers about who called in the bogus bomb tip.CanadaJun 16, 2022
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Bogus Parliament Hill bomb tip targeted organizers of Sikh demonstration: sourcesPolice do not believe there was any threat to the public after a bogus bomb tip saw police descend on downtown Ottawa Saturday, two men detained and later released.CanadaJun 13, 2022
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Parliament Hill explosives scare appears based on a bad tip: sourcesHeavily armed police searched two vehicles near Parliament Hill and detained two individuals, but concerns about explosives appear to have been overblown.CanadaJun 12, 2022