The sexual-assault trial of Magna International founder Frank Stronach will be transferred to Toronto from Peel Region, a court has ruled.
Justice of the Peace François Cloutier, of Peel Region’s Brampton court, on Monday approved the move of the trial. Mr. Stronach faces a total of 18 counts, including rape and forcible confinement, involving 13 women. The offences are alleged to have occurred between 1977 and 2024 in Toronto and York Region, not Peel.
Mr. Stronach, through one of his lawyers, has said he will plead not guilty. He did not appear in court.
Leora Shemesh, Mr. Stronach’s lawyer, has said she would be seeking to move the trial out of Peel Region based on the principle that an accused should be tried in the area in which the alleged offences occurred.
Crown attorney Jelena Vlacic told the court Monday that she agreed to move the trial after the heavy caseload in Peel Region and the trial’s links to Toronto were discussed at the judicial pretrial last week. “The Crown will be agreeing to move this matter,” Ms. Vlacic said.
Mr. Stronach was represented in court Monday by Ms. Shemesh’s associate, Michael Little. He declined to comment when reached by phone.
Mr. Stronach, 92, was charged in June with 13 sexual-assault crimes allegedly perpetrated against 10 women. In late September, Peel police laid five more charges related to three additional complainants.
Thirteen of the offences are alleged to have occurred in Toronto, three in the York Region town of Aurora and two in nearby Gormley.
Commenting generally, Toronto criminal lawyer David Butt said, “There does have to be some significant connection to the jurisdiction where it is charged and tried.”
Mr. Stronach sold his stake in Magna in 2010 and retired as chairman in 2012, but has extensive business interests in Aurora and York Region, including horse stables, a golf club and a restaurant.
There is no statute of limitations in Canada for accusations of sexual assault, unlike in other jurisdictions.
“There is no time limit,” Mr. Butt said. Given that these crimes often involve an abuse of power, and that victims typically need time to heal before going through the justice system, “we continually see historical cases arise.”
No date has been set for the trial.