Tom Clark's departure: "not his idea"

Yesterday, in this space, I lamented the loss of Tom Clark over at CTV's Power Play. The lament was sincere -- I believe Tom was a true pro  in cutting through political spin and I know I wasn't alone in thinking he was impeccably fair to guests of all stripes. Some of the news stories about his departure have left the impression that Clark left the CTV in a disgruntled fashion.

But I've been reliably informed in the last hour, by people close to Tom, that this impression is dead wrong. It wasn't his idea to leave CTV or the show, for that matter. Nor is he "bitter."  Which makes this quite baffling, actually. And very disappointing.  Moreover, oddly enough, one of the first guests on the new, Clark-less show yesterday was my friend Greg Weston, late of Sun Media.

Many here in the press gallery are hoping that Clark and Weston get picked up ASAP to resume their excellent journalism -- where it left off last June.

Comments

[albertaclipper]

Yes, yes. Let's get a who whack of Liberals to replace Liberals to make the left leaning Eastern press gallery happy.

[RunnertheFirst]

I found Tom Clark to be the most biased of political commentators and interviewers I have ever seen on TV. He invariably has decided to agree with or disagree with a political position prior to his program and ridicules all who would disagree with his preordained stance. CTV in removing Mr. Clark has done a great service to CTV political reporting that is, in my opinion, long over due.

[bobbybear]

Laughed about your shots at the Duff yesterday Susan...maybe you are doing your best for an appointment to the upper chamber by the daily Liberal ass kissing...to call his show a joke well look in the mirror your blogs and articles are biased as they come but then again you know that already!! Just another reason why I would never purchase a Star or support the sponsers of Torstar!!Wonder what you will think if Clarky goes to SUN TV!!Again get that makeover dear the 80's hair-do is well so 80's!!!

[Kevin Smale]

Is Susan Delacourt retirement age?

[Tom]

Yes, Tom was a victim of being to impartial and not leaning enough to the right, when he first appeared to replace Duffy I thought wow he is going to be another Duffy. Boy was I wrong, he earned my respect quickly and would never let any guest regardless of party ramble off talking points. I miss him and unfortunately to only alternative is Evan on P&P who sucks and reminds me more of Duffy than Tom. Hope to see you on the airways soon Tom

[Neil]

Actually I very much like Tom Clark, he cut through the political partisan crap quite effectively, much better than Don Newman at the old CBC Politics broadcast. I thought Newman was very good on the Friday edition of Politics with the media pundits panel.

[hollinm]

I didn't think Clark was that good as a TV host. All the politicians got their talking points out but he especially liked cutting off the government representatives from fully explaining their position. His constant yammering that the country is in outrage and his tell me something I don't know was irritating to say the least.
Like CBC the political shows are filled with media talking to media and acting like they are sitting in a bar over a beer trash talking. No wonder the public is cyncial about our politicians. As soon as I see a media person on one of the panel discussions I know exactly what they are going to say Ms. Delacourt.

[MCBellecourt]

Tom Clark was a consummate professional, and there are too few of them left on the telly.

CTV's loss, and it's a huge loss.

[ordinary Cdn]

The clue about the truth behind Clark's departure was the way it was announced. Lloyd Robertson announced his retirement on air. Clark hasn't been seen or heard from since the announcement of his departure was made by CTV.

Maybe viewers who appreciated Clark's unbiased style should let CTV know of their disapproval.

[Larry]

What a welcomed contrast from Duffy when Tom appeared. Gone was the over-the-top Duffy-partisanship to unbiased effort to get past the ever-present MP/political strategist talking points. We'll miss Tom - we wish him well.

[Observant]

How about some openness and transparency from the Canadian political media to inform Canadians what really happened between CTV and Clark. Instead we are being plied with guessing and gossip ... something in which our diligent and distinguished media seem to excel. Out with the truth ...!!!!

[MyThought]

I thought Tom Clark was very good - he didn't take the BS from "any" of the political parties and that's a rarity these days.

We need a non-partisan/not controlled by owners TV show/station.

Some really good journalists have lost their jobs lately, for what? Speaking truth?

Tom Clark, Greg Weston, Elizabeth Thompson.

What a hell of a political show they could make.

[johnnyk]

Tom managed to disguise his rightward leanings better than the shameless shill Duffy. Never mind, the Duffster cashed in.

[geo]

It appears that Tom Clark "was his idea" after plans were cancelled to offer him an anchoring position on the national news.

I guess Tom felt he was "owed" the position after 40 years on the job.
Sounds like Mr.Clark couldn't take that decision so he left.

Somehow I don't think that Lisa Laflamme would have left CTV had Tom been made the anchor.

All the speculation by everyone about how and why he got fired,and it turns out all it was,was Tom's ego was hurt, so he quit.

[David]

I thought he leaned to the left way too much. He was not as interesting and quick. The show seemed to drag on. Man!! I wish we had a politics show with more style and substance. Hey, what if we had Ezra do his own show. He would certainly piss alot of people off but maybe that's what we need to get people more involved.

[Michael]

Fair and balanced; are you kidding?? Still can't get over his interview with Supreme Court Justice John Major on bilingual Supreme Court justices. Clark used Major to support his anti-bilingualism bias, and didn't even bother to present viewers with an opposing perspective.

Also compared the Senate to the USSR. More like a cheap populist, rather than a serious journalist.

Good riddance; he was so obsessed with the USA, I am sure CNN or Fox will pick give him a soap-box.

[Shirley]

Without Tom Clark I no longer have to switch between Power Play and Power and Politics. Thanks CTV I can not stay with CBC and Evan Solomon

[owl]

I'm one of the 95 per cent of Canadians who not only didn't watch this Clark character, I didn't even have an inkling who he was until he was fired. That might be a clue, you know.
The vast majority of Canadians shun the partisan Toronto media. 95 per cent of us don't read the Red Star and can't stomach the Grope and Fail, either.
And no, not a denizen of the hinterlands. live in Southern Ont.

[Helen Macpherson]

Clark was an internationally experienced journalist and a great presenter on Power Play. I don't think he'll be out of work for long! CBC should try to hire him as a replacement for Evan Solomon.