Media scandal: l to r Evan Solomon fired by the CBC because, says the Toronto Star’s Kevin Donovan, he took big commissions for art sold to famous people, like former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney
Evan Solomon, a man talked of as a replacement to Peter Mansbridge, has been fired by the CBC for allegedly brokering big money art deals with people he dealt with in his job on television and radio. Using his influence this way to make money would be an apparent breach of the CBC’s code of ethics. Tonight, the CBC says it has severed its relationship (that means fired) with Solomon. Solomon was the Ottawa-based host of Power and Politics on television and The House on CBC radio. He was a dynamic and yet smooth host, a quick-witted on-air presence with a large national following. The Toronto Star’s Kevin Donovan reports having learned that Solomon had been brokering the sale of paintings and masks owned by a Toronto-area art collector to rich and famous buyers. Solomon, in at least one case, took commissions in excess of $300,000 for several pieces of art and did not disclose to the buyer that he was being paid fees for introducing buyer and seller. Donovan told CP24 that former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney had purchased art through Mr. Solomon. The firing was announced this way: “I regret to inform you that CBC News has ended its relationship with Evan Solomon host of Power and Politics and The House,” said Jennifer McGuire, general manager and editor-in-chief of CBC News, in a memo to staff. “We will be making announcements about the interim hosting of these programs in the next few days.”
