After months of investigating an a plethora of emails, Mississauga’s Integrity Commissioner, Robert J. Swayze, has made his recommendation in the incident of Ward 6 Councillor Ron Starr repeatedly scratching former Ward 2 Councillor Karen Ras’ car.

The 17-page document, released on June 30th, 2022, can be read here.

if you’re unfamiliar with the situation, here’s a quick background.

The TL:DR is that Starr repeatedly keyed Ras’ car in a City Hall underground parking lot, before and after security cameras were installed, which is workplace harassment.

His recommendation, as found on page one of the report is as follows:

It is recommended: That the compensation paid to Councillor Ron Starr be suspended for sixty (60) days commencing with the next pay period.

In a damning closing statement, Swayze said the following as found on page 17:

On a balance of probabilities, I find that Councillor Starr scratched Councillor Ras’s car on April 13, 2022 and that the single incident of scratching constitutes “Workplace Harassment” within the meaning of the Respectful Workplace Policy. I have decided to recommend a relatively higher suspension of compensation paid to him as a member of Council because his action was mindless vandalism and devoid of common decency.

Starr registered to run for the 2022 Municipal election in late June of 2022 in Ward 6.

In a statement from Ras, she says:

”This process has been too long, but the end result was a thorough and comprehensive investigation. The conclusion of the Integrity Commissioner speaks for itself. Commissioner Swayze stated, “his action was mindless vandalism and devoid of common decency.” I also thank Commissioner Swayze for acknowledging that “Damaging someone’s property … is behaviour which is demeaning, offensive and unwanted.” I thank Commissioner Swayze for finally conducting this thorough investigation and I look forward to the deliberations of Mississauga Council on July 6. I trust they will come to the same conclusion and accept Commissioner Swayze’s recommendation.

I hope that stepping forward to stand up for what is right and just will not go in vain. Dozens of municipal politicians, mainly women, from across Ontario reached out to me after this story was made public expressing similar frustration with toxic workplace environments, and a lack of respectful and healthy debates around Council tables. Councillors should be leaders and set the example for respectful workplaces. We should not be asked to endure toxic work environments just because we are elected. Something desperately needs to change.

I am pleased that this report is finally coming out and that the voters – the people who the Mayor and Councillors are ultimately accountable to - can make the appropriate, informed decision in the upcoming municipal election. With this report now in hand, the voters of Mississauga have the information they need to make an informed choice in the upcoming municipal election campaign.”

Ron Starr released a statement in the late hours of June 30th, which includes:

I am aware that the Integrity Commissioner has released a report which makes a finding that I damaged Karen Ras’ vehicle.    The Integrity Commissioner’s findings are simply wrong.

I stand by my previous statement that I absolutely deny the allegations made against me.  I am very sorry Karen Ras was subjected to harassment but I am not the person who harassed her, and I will continue to fight to clear my name.  

After 5 months of investigation, the Integrity Commissioner’s report contains no evidence whatsoever of any interaction between myself and Karen Ras.  The Integrity Commissioner’s conclusion is simply that “it is more likely than not” that I scratched Ras’ vehicle.  I maintain that I never scratched Ras’ vehicle.  There is no evidence that I harassed her.  The standard that the Integrity Commissioner has used to find me guilty of such conduct is simply inappropriate.

I am very disappointed that the Integrity Commissioner would choose to release his report in the face of my objections that this investigation has been unfair, biased and politically motivated.

This report was intentionally released and designed to obtain a strategic advantage, while preventing me to make my case publicly.  The Integrity Commissioner has muzzled me by refusing to allow me to put my complete evidence into the public record which discloses how this investigation has been improperly authorized, biased and unfair. 

 I wish to further make clear that I have respected this process throughout.  In particular, I addressed this issue in 2021 when Ras’ allegations were first brought to my attention.  Even though I have always denied the allegation, I immediately resolved this matter with Ras privately, as we are encouraged to do by our Code of Conduct.   I want to be clear that I paid to repair Ras’ vehicle on the advice of my legal counsel, Gary Mooney and not because I caused the damage alleged. To clear my name, I provided the Integrity Commissioner with a statement from my lawyer, Mr. Mooney who confirmed that I always denied causing the alleged damage and that neither he nor I ever admitted to me being guilty of these allegations.  My lawyer further confirmed he gave me the advice to pay for the damage as it was a quick way to resolve the issue, without having to defend the false allegations against me.  

I wholly dispute the report of the Integrity Commissioner and the investigation as a whole. I believe the investigation has been biased, unfair and a take down against me politically. More specifically, I believe that the investigation is politically motivated and was intentionally launched to stop me from running for re-election.Swayze’s report is on the July 6th council meeting agenda and council has up to 90 (ninety) days to respond to the investigation.

Hopefully this is the end of an ugly chapter at Mississauga’s City Hall.