Evan Solomon exits CTV’s ‘Power Play’ for a publishing role at digital media company

Canadian journalist Evan Solomon is leaving his roles at CTV’s “Power Play” and “Question Period” to join a digital media company.

Solomon announced Monday on Twitter that he has been hired as publisher at the online political news outlet Gzero Media and will be based in New York. He will also join the management committee of its owner, Eurasia Group. The post begins Oct. 17.

CTV’s owner Bell Media said Solomon will continue to “report regularly” on Canadian politics and global affairs as a special correspondent for the network.

Bell Media will announce a new host for “Power Play” and “Question Period” in the coming weeks.
Solomon’s departure is the latest change in the ranks at CTV News which saw lead anchor Lisa LaFlamme ousted from her role at the nightly national newscast in August, which the broadcaster described as a
decision made on “changing viewer habits.”

LaFlamme’s exit was met with widespread criticism which led CTV News head Michael Melling to take a leave of absence. The broadcaster said a week after the controversy that it “regrets” how the situation was handled, pledging to launch a workplace review conducted by an independent party.

Solomon built his name as host of CBC’s “Power & Politics” show before he parted ways with the network in 2015 over actions they deemed “inconsistent” with their code of ethics.

A Toronto Star report published at the time alleged he had used his contacts to broker lucrative art deals and collect huge fees.

Solomon later said through his lawyer he never intentionally used his position at CBC to promote a private business partnership he was involved in. He said he disclosed the business to CBC the same year the story went public.

In early 2016, Solomon joined Bell Media’s radio operations as a host on 580 News Talk Radio’s program Ottawa Now and several months later stepped into the hosting role at “Question Period.” He became host of “Power Play” in January 2020.

Gzero media is owned by political risk research and consulting firm Eurasia Group, which was founded by political scientist Ian Bremmer.

The media company takes its name from a term Bremmer helped popularize, which refers to a shakeup in global leadership that includes the weakening of collective powers such as the Group of Seven (G7) and Group of 20 (G20).