Report on ‘flagrant bullying’ of Mississauga councillor to come in April

Findings from an investigation into the “flagrant bullying and harassment” of former Mississauga councillor Karen Ras are expected to be presented to City councillors sometime in April.

Responding to an inquiry from Ward 7 Councillor Dipika Damerla, City of Mississauga staff said today (March 9) that a report from the City’s integrity commissioner Robert Swayze will come before council at some point next month.

Council meets on April 6 and 20.

Swayze was directed last month by council to look into allegations that Ward 6 Councillor Ron Starr repeatedly harassed and bullied Ras over a two-year period.

Ras’ car was vandalized eight times while in the City’s underground parking garage.

Ras, who served Ward 2 since 2014, resigned at the end of January.

Starr, who has denied the allegations, agreed to take a leave of absence while the matter is investigated.

Councillors were initially told Swayze’s report would be presented to them in March.

Today (March 9) at the City’s meeting of general committee, Damerla pointed out that the report seemed to be taking longer than initially thought.

No reason was given for the apparent delay.

At a special meeting of City council on Feb. 9, Swayze told councillors that he initially decided against investigating the matter last year because it had been already probed by Peel Regional Police.

Council also passed a resolution at that meeting that “clarifies and strengthens” the municipality’s Council Code of Conduct regarding investigative powers of the integrity commissioner.

Essentially, the resolution states that matters related to the Code can and will be investigated by the integrity commissioner even if police are also probing the matter.

Furthermore, the resolution now requires the integrity commissioner to make quarterly reports to council on any complaints received. Previously, such reports were presented once a year.

On Feb. 2, after a lengthy behind-closed-doors session, City council unanimously adopted a resolution directing the City’s integrity commissioner to investigate allegations that Starr repeatedly vandalized Ras’ vehicle while it was parked on city hall property.

The move by council came after reports surfaced in the media a day or so earlier that Ras resigned her council position in January not because she had another career opportunity, but because she was concerned for her safety after Swayze declined to investigate the incidents last year.

A police investigation earlier last year resulted in no charges being laid.