Former CBC and CTV journalist and news show host Evan Solomon has announced his plan to stand as a candidate for the Liberal Party in the upcoming federal election.
It is expected Prime Minister Mark Carney will call the election on March 23, with voters potentially going to the polls as soon as April 28.
The longtime journalist said in a March 20 LinkedIn post he had stepped down as publisher of GZERO Media and as a member of Eurasia Group’s Management Committee in New York City to pursue political office.
“Given the urgent challenges and threats facing Canadians right now, I’ve decided it’s the right time to come home and do whatever I can to help serve my community and country,” Solomon wrote. “I will be joining the team led by Prime Minister Mark Carney and will be running as a candidate in the next federal election.”
Solomon has yet to announce which riding he will be competing in, but said he will provide further details “very soon.”
The 56-year-old Toronto native worked at Bell Media between 2016 and 2022, initially serving as the host of “Ottawa Now” and subsequently taking on the role of host for CTV News political shows “Question Period” and “Power Play.” He won a Canadian Screen Award in 2020 as host of “Power Play.”
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He also hosted “The Evan Solomon Show,” a program that aired nationally on Bell Mediai/Heart Radio, and was a writer for Maclean’s magazine.
In 2009, Solomon began hosting the CBC News Network’s “Power & Politics” program and in 2011 was chosen to host CBC Radio One’s weekly political affairs series “The House.”
In June 2015, Solomon was fired by CBC due to conflict-of-interest claims after a report from the Toronto Star alleged he received commissions for facilitating art sales with individuals he also reported on as a journalist.
It was alleged one of those people was Carney, who served as the governor of the Bank of Canada during that period.
Solomon said at the time that he never intentionally used his position to promote the private partnership and that he was “deeply sorry” for any damage his activities had caused.
Solomon and Carney have reportedly been friends for many years and the former journalist has worked alongside Diana Fox Carney, the prime minister’s wife, who has been a senior adviser at Eurasia Group since May 2021. Gerald Butts, who previously served as a senior aide to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is also employed there.
Solomon’s entry into the federal political scene coincides with a snap election that is expected to be announced this weekend. Canada’s political parties have already kickstarted their campaign efforts by appointing candidates and arranging tours for their leaders.
Carney succeeded former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Liberal Party leader on March 9. He was sworn in as prime minister along with his new cabinet on March 14.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
