The Nation's Business started in the spring of 1956 as a ten minute, free time political television broadcast, a service already offered on CBC radio. It ran every other week. In the autumn, it expanded to a quarter hour, and alternated with a broadcast of similar format devoted to the politics of the provinces. The programs were then cut back to slots five to seven minutes in length. In the first few years, the national broadcasts also alternated between English and French language addresses.

Prime Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, party leaders, and senior Members of Parliament used the forum to speak on current issues.