Frank Stronach, a 91-year-old billionaire from Ontario, faces accusations of sexual offences involving three women spanning from 1980 to 2023, as per court documents.
CBC News said it obtained these details from public records at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton. These records provide additional context to the charges announced by Peel Regional Police last week.
The court documents outline the allegations by Peel police against Stronach: Rape and indecent assault on one woman in July 1980, sexual assault and forcible confinement of another woman in February 1986 and sexual assault on a third woman in April 2023.
Stronach was arrested on June 7 in the Peel region, west of Toronto, and is scheduled to appear in Brampton court on July 8.
The alleged incidents from the 1980s reportedly occurred in Toronto or other parts of Ontario, while the 2023 incident is alleged to have taken place in Aurora or elsewhere in Ontario. The charges of rape and indecent assault predate their replacement by sexual assault in the Criminal Code in 1983.
Stronach’s residence is listed in Aurora, Ontario. When asked about York Regional Police’s involvement, spokesperson acting Sgt. Lisa Moskaluk confirmed it is solely a Peel investigation.
Stronach has been ordered to surrender his passports, inform police of any address changes, and avoid contact with the alleged victims.
Brian Greenspan, Stronach’s lawyer, stated that his client “categorically denies the allegations of impropriety brought against him” and looks forward to defending his legacy.
Magna Affiliation and Business Background
Frank Stronach, originally from Austria, immigrated to Canada in 1954 and later founded Magna International, an auto parts giant based in Aurora. Magna clarified that Stronach has had no ties to the company since 2010.
His daughter, Belinda Stronach, a former MP for Newmarket-Aurora, currently leads the Stronach Group (also known as 1/ST), which focuses on thoroughbred horse racing and betting. The company stated that Frank Stronach has not been involved in its operations for several years.
Recent Ventures and Honors
In 2018, Stronach launched Stronach International, which focuses on organic agriculture and zero-emission transportation.
Stronach is a member of the Order of Canada and the Canadian Business Hall of Fame, holding several honorary degrees from institutions in Canada and abroad. Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, which awarded him an honorary doctorate in business administration in 2011, stated it is monitoring the situation closely, emphasizing the importance of honorary degree recipients reflecting the university’s values.
Stronach received a trophy from then Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Elizabeth Dowdeswell after his horse, Shaman Ghost, won the 156th Queen’s Plate at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto on July 5, 2015.