TORONTO — The CBC has abruptly "ended its relationship" with high-profile news host Evan Solomon, saying it determined he had acted in ways that were "inconsistent" with its code of ethics.
The departure of Solomon, one of CBC's best-known news personalities, was announced Tuesday night barely an hour after a Toronto Star report alleged he had "secretly been brokering lucrative art deals" with people he has dealt with through his job.
In a statement issued about two and a half hours later through his lawyer, Solomon said he never intentionally used his position at CBC to promote a private business partnership he was involved in.
Solomon said he formed the partnership with a friend in 2013 to broker Canadian art. He said the business involved only two clients and noted that he disclosed the business to CBC earlier this year.
"I did not view the art business as a conflict with my political journalism at the CBC and never intentionally used my position at the CBC to promote the business," he said. "This month, following a difficult dispute with my partner, I took steps to end our business relationship."
Solomon said he was "deeply sorry" for any damage his activities had done to the trust CBC, its viewers and its listeners put in him.
"I have the utmost respect for the CBC and what it stands for," he said.
Solomon, who is based in Ottawa, was the host of Power and Politics show on CBC television and host of "The House" on CBC radio.
CBC News editor-in-chief Jennifer McGuire sent a note to staff on Tuesday night announcing that the broadcaster was cutting ties with the 47-year-old journalist.
"I regret to inform you that CBC News has ended its relationship with Evan Solomon host of Power and Politics and The House," she said in an email. "We will be making announcements about the interim hosting of these programs in the next few days."
CBC spokesman Chuck Thompson said the broadcaster determined some of Solomon's activities were "inconsistent" with the organization's conflict of interest and ethics policy, as well as its journalistic standards and practices.
Sources at the CBC said Solomon's departure was discussed at an emotional meeting of the Power and Politics team after its Tuesday's show, which was airing when the Star story was published.
The issue over Solomon's activities comes after several CBC on-air personalities also found themselves in the news over their alleged conduct.
Former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi is facing several sexual assault charges and was fired after CBC executives saw what they described as graphic evidence that he had physically injured a woman. Ghomeshi has admitted to engaging in rough sex but said it was consensual. His lawyer has said he will plead not guilty to the charges.
CBC business reporter Amanda Lang recently came under fire for an alleged conflict of interest in her reporting — although a review by the broadcaster found she abided by journalistic standards.
Even CBC's chief correspondent and national anchor, Peter Mansbridge, faced questions last year after reports he made a paid speech to petroleum producers. Mansbridge said he has never publicly promoted or opposed oilsands development and the CBC's ombudsman said Mansbridge did nothing wrong by accepting fees for the speaking engagement, noting that his speech focused on what it means to be a Canadian.
In its report on Solomon, The Star cited the CBC code of ethics, which states "employees must not use their positions to further their personal interests."
The newspaper alleged Solomon was taking "secret commission payments" related to art sales between a Toronto-area art collector and people he dealt with as a host at CBC.
In at least one case, the Star reported, Solomon took commissions of over $300,000 and allegedly didn't tell the buyer he was being paid fees for his involvement in the deal.
The newspaper said Jim Balsillie, co-founder of Research In Motion (now known as BlackBerry), and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney were among the people Solomon connected to an art collector he knew.
Solomon has dealt with both Balsillie and Carney through his hosting duties at CBC.
Solomon, who has won two Gemini awards, is also a guest anchor on CBC News's flagship nightly newscast, "The National."
He joined the broadcaster in 1994 and worked in a variety of roles. Before his latest positions, he co-hosted weekly news and current affairs shows "CBC News: Sunday" and "CBC News: Sunday night" where he reported on a range of national and international stories. Prior to that he hosted a show about print culture and ideas, another about technology, as well as a CBC mini-series about writers and thinkers who made a radical difference.
Earlier in his career, Solomon was co-founder of a technology and culture magazine called "Shift," where he was editor in chief from 1992 to 1999.
Solomon has also published a novel, "Crossing the Distance," two children's books, and a non-fiction book on energy.
EVAN SOLOMON'S RISE AND FALL AT THE CBC
TORONTO — Among the dwindling stars at the beleaguered CBC, it seemed the public broadcaster could bank on at least one: Evan Solomon.
The boyishly handsome anchor of CBC News Network's daily political series "Power & Politics" and Radio One's flagship political program "The House" had long been a rising luminary and was widely considered to be a possible successor to Peter Mansbridge as host of "The National."
His marquee status was backed by everything one would look for in a CBC personality: a long resume of TV and radio hosting gigs; field experience extending to federal elections, budgets and foreign stints around the world; and a polished confidence in interviews with prime ministers, world leaders and U.S. presidents.
"It's not who I admire (and there are many, many great journalists working today who I could name), but it's what I admire," Solomon told the Ottawa Citizen of his professional drive in an April 24 article available online.
"I admire journalists who break stories, make news and don't follow the pack. One thing that isn't going out of style: good journalism."
The long-and-lean marathoner was also a bestselling author, a children's book writer, a magazine publisher and family man — his rise from CBC golden boy to established figurehead seemed assured.
Until Tuesday.
CBC severed ties with Solomon barely an hour after the Toronto Star alleged the 47-year-old took advantage of his position to broker lucrative art deals between a friend and wealthy interview subjects. Power and politics, indeed.
Solomon has denied any wrongdoing and has turned to his union, the Canadian Media Guild, to examine his options.
But it's undeniably a blow to what had been a relatively unblemished career, and certainly to his post as a watchdog tasked with holding decision-makers to the fire.
"I have had the opportunity to interview and debate many political leaders, and I never take the opportunity for granted," the self-described political junkie told the University of Calgary's online magazine UToday in a post dated March 26.
"It is a privilege to have two hours a day on CBC News Network and on CBC Radio One to hold our leaders to account."
Solomon, who came to his Ottawa post as successor to veteran host Don Newman, launched into the spotlight as co-founder of the tech-and-culture magazine Shift. He was the editor-in-chief from 1992 to 1999, during which time he also carved out a role as a public speaker and digital pundit.
From there, he went on to helm several youth and tech-oriented shows for the CBC, which capitalized on Solomon's youthful energy as TV newsrooms chased younger viewers and underwent infotainment-influenced makeovers.
Solomon's shows included CBC's six-part writers-and-thinkers series "The Changemakers," Newsworld's technology show "Futureworld," the PBS co-production "Masters of Technology," and Newsworld's culture and ideas show "Hot Type."
He shifted to broader news fare when he was named co-host of the weekly news and current affairs shows "CBC News: Sunday" and "CBC News: Sunday Night," platforms that took him on reporting stints across the country and around the world.
Solomon's first novel was "Crossing the Distance." He also earned acclaim for writing and editing the 2004 business book "Fueling the Future: How the Battle Over Energy Will Change Everything."
After attending high school in Toronto, Soloman studied English literature and religious studies at McGill University, a reflection of his interest "in myth and ritual," as he explained in an interview with January Magazine about his first novel.
"It strikes me that storytelling has always been a sacred thing. The act of literacy was an act of power and through stories we conveyed all of our moral meanings and our power structures and who we were," he said.
"Being a journalist you're telling a story. You're purveyors of story. That's our job as journalists."
FACTBOX: EVAN SOLOMON AND OTHERS IN THE MEDIA WORLD WHO HAVE MADE HEADLINES
The CBC parted ways with news host Evan Solomon on Tuesday night, saying it found he had acted in ways "inconsistent" with the broadcaster's code of ethics. It happened after a Toronto Star report alleged he had "secretly been brokering lucrative art deals" with people he has dealt with through his job. Solomon, one of CBC's best-known news personalities, said he did not view his private business partnership to broker Canadian art as a conflict with his political journalism at CBC. He said he never intentionally used his position at CBC to promote the partnership.
Here's a look at some others associated with the media business who have themselves made headlines amid controversy:
KEVIN CRULL: Bell Media parted ways with its president Kevin Crull after he admitted he tried to influence how subsidiary CTV covered a story. Crull drew criticism in March after a published report said he called on CTV not to give any airtime to CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais. Crull was apparently unhappy with Blais' announcement of rule changes requiring broadcasters to offer a low-cost packages to cable TV consumers.
LESLIE ROBERTS: In January, Global News anchor Leslie Roberts resigned after media reports that he co-owned a public relations company, and that some of the firm's clients appeared on Roberts' morning show. Global News said it was never informed of his connection to the PR firm. Roberts said when he sat in the anchor chair he was in journalist mode and nothing stood between him and the story.
AMANDA LANG: The CBC determined business reporter Amanda Lang — the host of "The Exchange with Amanda Lang" — abided by journalistic standards during her involvement in a 2013 story concerning the Royal Bank of Canada and its use of temporary foreign workers.
In early January, media website Canadaland alleged that Lang had a conflict of interest in the story and tried to "sabotage" it. The report said the bank had sponsored some speeches or events at which Lang spoke and that Lang had a "serious relationship" with a bank board member. Lang said the bank was just one of several sponsors at the events, and the CBC said "appropriate protocols" were put in place after her personal relationship with the board member became known.
A week after the controversy involving Lang, the CBC said it would no longer approve paid appearances by its on-air journalistic employees. It said on-air journalists may speak at public events, moderate debates or take part in other public appearances, but they must make sure the activity "does not represent any real or perceived conflict of interest'' and ``get permission from his or her supervisor to do so'' beforehand.
JIAN GHOMESHI: The former host of the CBC radio program "Q," Jian Ghomeshi, faces five charges of sexual assault and one count of choking. The CBC fired Ghomeshi last October after executives saw what they described as graphic evidence that he had physically injured a woman. Ghomeshi has admitted to engaging in rough sex but said it was consensual. His lawyer says he will plead not guilty to all charges.
PETER MANSBRIDGE: Last year, CBC News anchor Peter Mansbridge faced questions after reports he made a paid speech to petroleum producers. Mansbridge said he has never publicly promoted or opposed oilsands development. He added that when he receives a fee for making a speech, he often donates part or all of the money to charity. The CBC's ombudsman said Mansbridge did nothing wrong by accepting fees for the speaking engagement, noting that his speech focused on what it means to be a Canadian.
REX MURPHY: CBC personality Rex Murphy came under fire for giving speeches in support of oilsands development. Murphy, who hosts the show "Cross-Country Checkup," said he always speaks his mind and his opinions can't be bought. The CBC has defended Murphy's actions, saying he is a freelance commentator paid to take a "provocative stand" on issues.
