A picture circulating online shows Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s campaign director and chief of staff meeting with prominent CBC host, David Cochrane. 

Cochrane currently serves as the host of CBC’s Power & Politics.

The widely-circulated photo reveals Cochrane sitting next to Trudeau’s Chief of Staff, Katie Telford, and the Prime Minister’s new campaign director, Andrew Bevan. 

Reached for comment as to the purpose of the meeting, neither party responded by the time of publication.

It’s fully possible Mr. Cochrane was meeting Trudeau’s campaign strategist for a story, digging for a scoop on how he plans to improve Trudeau’s abysmal polling numbers. 

But the cozy relationship between the CBC and the Trudeau Government is no secret. Even the Conservative Party leader, Pierre Poilievre, recently referred to the CBC as the Prime Minister’s public relations team.

The viral photo has also created speculation from social media users as to the purpose of the meeting, with sarcastic comments like “Nothing to see here.” 

At the time of publication, there’s no indication the private conversation will be aired by the CBC.

Gerald Butts

In 2019, and just days before the federal election debate, Justin Trudeau’s long-time buddy and advisor, Gerald Butts, was photographed having dinner with the CBC’s Althia Raj. Ms. Raj subsequently moderated the English-language leaders’ debate.

Update: Wednesday, October 30, 3:30pm

The CBC’s Head of Public Affairs, Chuck Thompson, told The Counter Signal by email:

“Like all news organizations that cover Parliament Hill, our journalists meet politicians and political staff for conversations in the course of doing their jobs. Mr. Cochrane hosts a daily program about politics and speaks to politicians and staffers of all political stripes in order to do his job. And that’s exactly what happened in this instance.”