The billionaire businessman facing 13 criminal charges

Plus, cyber security at City Hall and LGBTQ refugees [The Star] First Up [By Andy Takagi] By Andy Takagi Good morning. Here’s the latest on new charges against billionaire Frank Stronach, how the city is posting personal information online and LGBTQ refugees finding a community in Toronto. DON’T MISS AP File Photo crime [Frank Stronach is facing new charges of sexual assault and attempted rape]( Billionaire businessman Frank Stronach is now facing 13 criminal charges in connection to alleged assaults across five decades. The 91-year-old was arrested Wednesday by Peel police on six charges of sexual assault and two historical charges of attempted rape and indecent assault on a female. Stronach’s lawyer said his client will defend against the allegations, while confirming that one of the charges dates back to 1977. None of the allegations have been tested in court. [Here is the full list of charges Stronach is facing](. - Who is Frank Stronach? Founder of an Aurora-based auto parts manufacturer, Magna International, Stronach was named the 31st richest Canadian in 2017 by Canadian Business, tagging his net worth at over $3 billion. He has also been named to the Order of Canada. - The first charges: [Stronach was first charged three weeks ago with five offences]( including sexual assault, for incidents that spanned from the 1980s to 2023. - What’s next? Stronach is set to make a court appearance on the first set of charges in a Brampton court on July 8. Peel police are appealing to members of the public to come forward if they have any relevant information. Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward city hall [The city routinely posts residents’ personal info online, despite warnings from a privacy watchdog]( Your address, phone number, email – even a digital copy of your signature – could be available for anyone to download on a city website. That happened to Jane Colonna, who applied for a small change to her driveway and ended up inundated with cold calls and a surge in phishing attempts. A provincial watchdog reviewed a complaint from Colonna and pushed the city to be more careful with Torontonians’ personal information online — the city has promised an update later next month. [Here’s how much of your information could be posted online](. - Stranger danger: Toronto police call identity theft “the fastest growing crime in North America.” This year has seen a string of cyber attacks targeting several city institutions, including the Toronto Zoo, the city’s library system and even the TDSB. - Miss something? It’s not just the information of personal residents that city hall is posting online, it’s also happening to big developers. The Star’s David Rider reported two weeks ago that [the city posted the banking information of development giant Tridel](. - Staying safe: Personal information can be used to undertake identity theft, other kinds of fraud, or to launch phishing attacks. [Here are some tips and tricks to help prevent a cyber attack or identity theft](. Lylie Ouko/Supplied Photo pride [Lylie Ouko fled persecution — then she found Pride and a new LGBTQ family in Toronto]( As Canada bolsters its efforts to provide a home for refugees fleeing persecution due to sexual orientation, more and more LGBTQ newcomers — particularly refugees from Nigeria and East African countries — are showing up to volunteer for Pride Toronto. Lylie Ouko is one of them. The 34-year-old woman arrived in Canada in May 2023, having fled Kenya after facing persecution as a lesbian. She began volunteering for Pride Toronto and found a new community that she would never have imagined could exist in her home country. [Read how Ouko and others have found a safe haven to live freely in Canada]( - By the numbers: Immigration data shows the number of asylum claims based on sexual orientation and gender identity has tripled over the last decade, from 1,286 in 2013 to 4,353 in 2023. For this year, claims were mainly made by asylum seekers in Nigeria, Kenya, Mexico, Uganda and Pakistan. Of the 193 UN member states, 62 still criminalize consensual same-sex sexual acts. - In their own words: “There’s a cultural shock because this is not something you’re allowed to do back home. You have to keep your sexuality a secret. Then you see people here embracing each other and celebrating freely,” Ouko said. - Context: In 2023, [Canada moved into the top five countries in the world for refugee claims]( receiving 146,800 pleas from people hoping to find safety in Canada. Pride Toronto’s education manager is calling for solidarity with and hospitality for LGBTQ refugees, as refugee claims continue to grow.  WHAT ELSE [A Bolivian general has been arrested after an apparent failed coup attempt]( as the government faces a new crisis. Flair Airlines’ retiring CEO is warning that Ottawa must [react to “predatory behaviour” by Air Canada and WestJet](. Recycled dishwater? [Here’s what’s happening after this Canadian city lost much of its water supply overnight](. [“Poor living conditions” in Ontario’s overcrowded jails]( topped the list of complaints to the provincial ombudsman. A Toronto man has been handed a life sentence for the [“brutal and cruel” murder and decapitation of his own mother](. A man with a “terrible” criminal record got a [four-and-a-half year sentence for a fatal Toronto hit-and-run](. [These Toronto tailors designed custom suits for four NBA draft prospects]( — including Toronto’s own Zach Edey. Olivia Chow wants Doug Ford to stick to the terms of the Science Centre lease. [Here’s what that lease says](. Has the Shaw Festival found a way to bend time? [It seems so with “The Orphan of Chao.”]( Toronto Pride 2024: [Where to eat or grab a drink near the parade route](. [The Blue Jays are more likely to retool than rebuild]( while putting off the big decisions for another day. The Maple Leafs have the 23rd pick in the NHL draft. [Here’s who they might target](. POV Canadian Press File Photo [Whether or not Justin Trudeau should quit now is the wrong question — just ask Kathleen Wynne.]( CLOSE-UP Nick Lachance/The Star 501B SPADINA: What happens when you swap a smooth-riding streetcar for a replacement bus? Transit chaos. That’s what the Star’s Mahdis Habibinia found out when she put the 501B Spadina replacement bus to the test. For the next six months, until December, the 510 Spadina streetcar will be off the tracks while upgrades are made along the route. So how long does the trip from Bloor Street to the waterfront take? On a streetcar, about 27 minutes. On a replacement bus? [Think long — and then think even longer than that]( Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_215759). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](