‘Inconsistent with our conflict of interest and ethics policies’
CBC says fired broadcaster wasn’t entirely forthcoming on relationship with art dealer
OTTAWA— CBC host Evan Solomon was fired after it was revealed his business arrangement with an art dealer was far more involved than he let on, the public broadcaster’s editor-in-chief Jennifer McGuire says.
“On Monday, a Toronto Star reporter approached us with allegations which, if true, significantly changed our understanding of the situation,” she said in a memo Wednesday to CBC staff.
The Star presented information to CBC brass that Solomon, 47, had brokered art deals for people he dealt with as the Ottawa-based host of Power & Politics and The House on CBC Radio —an arrangement that brought him commission in excess of $300,000.
“Based upon information from our own review, it was determined that Evan’s activities were inconsistent with our conflict of interest and ethics policies, as well as our journalistic standards and practices,” McGuire stated.
In the memo, McGuire lamented that it was another difficult week for the CBC, a reference to an earlier controversy of CBC personalities getting paid for speaking engagements and the firing of Jian Ghomeshi, who now faces sex assault charges.
McGuire explained that Solomon first approached senior CBC officials in April to tell them that a production company he owned with his wife had a business partnership with an art dealer.
“We told him, and he assured us, this could not conflict in any way with his work for CBC News. As you know, under the terms of our collective agreement, CBC employees have the right to earn income outside CBC,” she stated.
The Star’s information about Solomon’s art dealing ventures told a different story.
“On Tuesday, we made the decision to discontinue our relationship with Evan Solomon. Our announcement was made public shortly after the Toronto Star published its story. The decision was made before the article was published,” McGuire said.
“CBC News represents the very highest standard of journalistic conduct and ethics. We live up to that every day. In this case, that standard was not met,” she said.
“(Tuesday), we took the steps necessary to protect the integrity of our colleagues and the service we pro- vide to Canadians.”
McGuire told staff that getting rid Solomon was not an easy decision.
“Ending our relationship with Evan Solomon was upsetting for me and many other colleagues in CBC News. He’s been a popular host and has done notable work with our excellent teams at both The Houseon CBC Radio One and Power & Politics on CBC News Network,” she said.
But McGuire said in journalism ethics and trustworthiness matter and that when one journalist strays it sullies the profession.
“People have questioned the integrity of our news. And that of CTV, Global, NBC and ABC. Despite this, it is worth noting that the vast majority of working journalists are as honourable and honest as we want them to be. But the sad reality is that any ethical lapse reflects badly on the entire profession,” she said.
Global Television’s senior news anchor Leslie Roberts resigned in January following a Toronto Star investigation into conflict of interest allegations involving a public relations company he co-owned.
A statement released by the Canadian Media Guild, which represents CBC employees, said the union is “concerned that there may have been a rush to judgment here and a disproportionate response to what, at worse, may have been an unintentional breach of corporate policy that had no impact whatsoever on how Evan conducted himself as a host and journalist.”
“We are concerned that factors unrelated to this case have caused management to single out and treat a respected journalist unfairly and in a way that may be very damaging to his career,” CMG national president Carmel Smyth wrote Wednesday.