Ontario Billionaire Frank Stronach Faces Sexual Offence Charges
Ontario billionaire Frank Stronach, 91, is facing serious allegations of sexual offences against three women, spanning from 1980 to 2023, according to court documents obtained by CBC News.
The Peel Regional Police initially announced the charges against Stronach in a brief statement last week. The detailed court documents, released on Friday, outline the specific allegations:
- July 1980: Rape and indecent assault against one woman.
- February 1986: Sexual assault and forcible confinement against another woman.
- April 2023: Sexual assault against a third woman.
The alleged offences from the 1980s occurred in Toronto or elsewhere in Ontario, while the 2023 incident is said to have taken place in Aurora or another location in Ontario.
Stronach was arrested on June 7 in Peel region and is scheduled to appear in court in Brampton on July 8. The court documents list Stronach’s residence as Aurora, Ontario. Despite the older allegations predating the 1983 abolishment of rape and indecent assault from the Criminal Code, they are being pursued under the newer classification of sexual assault.
Peel Regional Police are handling the investigation exclusively, according to York Regional Police spokesperson acting Sgt. Lisa Moskaluk.
In response to the charges, Stronach’s lawyer, Brian Greenspan, stated that his client “categorically denies the allegations of impropriety which have been brought against him.” Greenspan emphasized Stronach’s intention to fully respond to the charges, aiming to uphold his legacy as a philanthropist and Canadian business icon.
Born in Austria, Stronach emigrated to Canada in 1954 and later founded the Aurora-based auto parts giant Magna International. Magna International clarified that Stronach has had no affiliation with the company since relinquishing control in 2010.
His daughter, Belinda Stronach, a former MP for Newmarket-Aurora, currently leads the Stronach Group, another multinational company founded by her father, specializing in thoroughbred horse racing and betting. The Stronach Group confirmed that Frank Stronach has not been involved in its operations for several years.
Stronach has been ordered to surrender his passports, notify police of any address changes, and avoid contact with the alleged victims. The legal proceedings are set to continue, with Stronach expected to address the charges in court next month.
