Fired CBC host Solomon lands new talk show
Journalist will cover politics on SiriusXM, also write for Maclean’s
Two months after he was fired by the CBC for using his power and profile to broker high-priced art deals, Ottawa journalist Evan Solomon is back covering federal politics.
Solomon was unveiled Wednesday by SiriusXM Canada as host of a new political talk show, and by Maclean’s magazine as an election commentator whose opinions will appear both online and in print.
For Solomon, 47, the jobs represent a dramatic return to prominence only two months after a scandal brought his ascendant career crashing down at the CBC.
Solomon was fired by the national broadcaster after the Toronto Star revealed that he had accepted more than $300,000 in secret commissions for helping to broker art sales between a Toronto dealer and wealthy buyers, some of whom he interviewed as host of the flagship CBC program Power & Politics.
The show was among the CBC News Network’s highest-rated programs, and its popular host was widely regarded as a tough, engaging interviewer.
Solomon has said he never intentionally used his marquee position to secure art deals. He also apologized, saying: “I am deeply sorry for the damage that my activities have done to the trust that the CBC and its viewers and listeners have put in me.”
The former television star’s first column appeared Wednesday on the Maclean’s website, where he was described as “veteran political journalist and former host of CBC’s Power and Politics and The House.” The magazine made no mention of why Solomon lost those jobs.
Meanwhile, the head of programming for SiriusXM Canada said he didn’t hesitate to hire Solomon, despite the ethical controversy that engulfed him in June.
“Evan took full responsibility for his actions at the CBC, he apologized, and he’s moving on,” said John Lewis, senior vice-president of programming and operations. “We look at it as what type of content we’d like to provide to our subscribers, our listeners, and we actually feel quite fortunate to have him. He’s one of Canada’s most experienced political journalists.”
The satellite radio company’s new show, Everything Is Political: Campaign 2015 with Evan Solomon, will première Thursday at 6 p.m.
In a company news release, Solomon said he’s pleased to be part of the radio network during “this historic election campaign.”
“With the help of a talented pool of Ottawa-based journalists,” he said, “we will bring a unique perspective to the campaign and aim to become a required everyday source of essential national campaign material.”
Months before he was fired, Solomon disclosed to the CBC that he had a stake in a company with ties to an art dealer, but he told his bosses that the business would not conflict with his journalism.
Confronted with email and other documentary evidence that suggested the TV host was using his position for personal gain, however, CBC management concluded that Solomon had failed to meet “the very highest standard of journalistic conduct and ethics.” He was abruptly fired on June 9.
The Canadian Media Guild, which represents many CBC employees, has suggested the public broadcaster acted rashly by dismissing Solomon.
“As a union, we are concerned that there may have been a rush to judgment here and a disproportionate response to what at worst may have been an unintentional breach of corporate policy that had no impact whatsoever on how Evan conducted himself as a host and journalist,” said Carmel Smyth, national president of the media guild.
We actually feel quite fortunate to have him. He’s one of Canada’s most experienced political journalists.