Canadian journalist sacked in scandal involving art sale to Mark Carney
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Version 0 of 1. Mark Carney, the Bank of England governor, has been named in connection with the sacking of a Canadian journalist who used his position to broker lucrative art sales to high-profile people he interviewed. National broadcaster the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) said it cut ties on Tuesday with Evan Solomon, host of CBC’s flagship weekday television political show Power & Politics as well as a CBC radio show. The swift dismissal of Solomon came the same day the Toronto Star newspaper published a report on the art sales said to involve high-powered buyers including Carney. The report alleged that Solomon had brokered art sales between a dealer and people whom he dealt with professionally as a CBC journalist, such as Carney and BlackBerry founder Jim Balsillie. There is no suggestion of impropriety on behalf of either buyer. The Star said it had sought comment from Carney and a spokesman at the Bank of England responded: “Governor Carney has no enduring professional relationship with Mr Solomon. He never comments on matters relating to his personal life.” The paper said that email correspondence between Solomon and art collector Bruce Bailey referred to Carney as “the Guv” and Balsillie was “Anka” – referencing a resemblance to the singer Paul Anka. “Next year in terms of the Guv will be very interesting. He has access to highest power network in the world,” Solomon wrote, according to the Star. Carney, who had been a guest of Solomon on CBC, left the Bank of Canada in 2014 to head the Bank of England. Solomon then brokered a deal for Bailey to sell a $22,500 painting to Carney that was finalised in December 2014, the Star said. “Good news my partner,” Solomon wrote in an email to Bailey. “We just sold the Kim Dorland to Mark Carney! A great client and his circle is very wide. He liked our 10 per cent off!” The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which fired another popular host last year amid sexual assault allegations, said on Tuesday that it “ended its relationship” with Solomon, according to a note to staff from CBC’s editor in chief, Jennifer McGuire. The CBC reported the decision on its website. The CBC, citing a corporation spokesman, said Solomon’s activities were considered by management to be “inconsistent with the organisation’s conflict of interest and ethics policy, as well as journalistic standards and practices”. In January the broadcaster banned its on-air journalists from taking paid engagements after a business programme host was criticised for the role she played in coverage of Royal Bank of Canada when the bank was embroiled in an outsourcing controversy. The host, Amanda Lang, had spoken at events sponsored by the bank and acknowledged a personal relationship with a Royal Bank board member. In April an independent report, commissioned by the CBC, said the broadcaster failed to halt the abusive conduct of star radio host Jian Ghomeshi, who is facing criminal charges for sexual assault and choking. The CBC fired Ghomeshi as host of Q, an internationally syndicated CBC Radio music and arts programme, in October 2014. Reuters contributed to this report |