Laura Payton

Laura Payton has covered federal politics for eight years. In that time, she’s followed the trials of several politicians and staffers, and written about everything from robocalls to whether our politicians believe Santa Claus is Canadian. Earlier this year, Laura won the R. James Travers Fellowship, a Canadian journalism prize.

High hopes: Legalized pot is on the way

As marijuana producers gear up to sell to the masses, the feds have some hurdles to clear

Is Kevin O’Leary really going to run for Conservative leader?

The investor and TV personality talks about the only reason he’d enter politics

Five things we learned from talking to Kevin O’Leary

Kevin O’Leary, considering a run for Conservative Party leadership, held forth with our senior writer Laura Payton. Here’s a peek at their conversation

Jane Philpott explains why money isn’t everything

Canada’s health minister wants to work with the provinces on better primary care.

Maclean’s on the Hill: Exactly how bad is the economy?

On our politics podcast this week: worsening economic news, doctor-assisted suicide, and federal-provincial health talks.

A committee dispute clouds the Liberals’ sunny ways

Why the NDP and the Bloc are testing the Liberals by slowing down House committees

The simple way Canadians can help Syrians

The feds set aside $100 million to match donations to the Syrian crisis, but donations have reached only a tenth that amount

Ottawa’s slow drip of gender parity

Cabinet is 50-50, but the House of Commons has a long way to go

A century of voting rights, and unfinished business

A commemorative loonie reminds us the battle for gender equality continues

How Rona Ambrose is setting the tone for the Tory leadership race

The interim Conservative leader would have been an obvious choice to contest the formal leadership, and her work so far has some wondering aloud if she could stick around

The challenge ahead for Seamus O’Regan

The Liberal MP is in treatment while he tries to quit drinking. He’ll need all the support he can get once he’s out, including from at least one colleague who’s been there.

Opening the door to Ebola-hit countries

The Liberals have rolled back the controversial Tory freeze on visa processing for residents of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone