Mayor Bonnie Crombie 'sorry' for inaction on harassment allegations against councillor
Author of the article:Joe Warmington
Publishing date:Feb 03, 2022 • 8 hours ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation
Ward 2 Councillor Karen Ras resigned from council after what she describes as a two-year ordeal in which her car was allegedly “keyed” eight times in the underground garage by a male member of council.
Ward 2 Councillor Karen Ras resigned from council after what she describes as a two-year ordeal in which her car was allegedly “keyed” eight times in the underground garage by a male member of council. PHOTO BY SUPPLIED /TORONTO SUN
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Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie has publicly apologized to an outgoing councillor, saying she should have done more to probe alleged harassment, intimidation and vandalism directed toward her.
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“As a friend and colleague, and as mayor, I should have pushed harder for an investigation,” Crombie said Thursday.
In a rare act of contrition by any politician, the mayor was referring to Ward 2 Councillor Karen Ras, who has resigned from council after what she describes as a two-year ordeal in which her car was allegedly “keyed” eight times in the underground garage by a male member of council.
“I have reflected deeply on this and I realize that I should have done more for Karen, for the residents of Ward 2 and for our City,” said Crombie. “I’m not sure if Karen is watching, but I am sorry.”
A police investigation that produced video evidence of her car being vandalized did not result in charges. However, one of the incidents resulted in $1,200 in damages to her KIA vehicle.
With no charges brought, Ras was no longer comfortable.
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She told the Sun once she saw nothing was going to happen, she realized it “was time to move on” and away from a place where “safety is an issue.” She said she couldn’t get anybody to take her concerns seriously.
The allegations are as shocking as city council not looking at it closer. For that, Crombie has taken responsibility. The mayor said she was “sad” that “flagrant bullying and harassment” led to “Karen resigning from council.”
Crombie said “I am a woman in politics and I’ve been on the receiving end of harassment myself” and “as the leader of council. I should have done everything in my power to protect my friend and colleague. I should have pushed our integrity commissioner to open an investigation on this once the criminal investigation was closed by police.”
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The mayor now is calling for action — including urging veteran Councillor Ron Starr to step away from council while this situation is thoroughly investigated again. Saying “there’s a glaring gap in our system that must be closed,” Crombie said, “what’s important now is that we make meaningful change so a situation like this never happens again.”
That started with council voting unanimously for “Councillor Starr to take a leave of absence until the investigation is complete.”
Starr, who has not been charged, has yet to comment or return calls.
Meanwhile, Ras’s said she “accepts” Crombie’s apology.
“But what is more important is what happens now,” she said. “This was an eye-opener. It’s a broken system that needs to be fixed.” Ras said she received many calls from other women across all professions who had their own stories of harassment.
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Crombie’s standard-setting apology was the right thing to do since she has been a vocal critic of others she feels do not meet decency standards.
On Don Cherry’s 2019 scandal, she said “to say that ‘you people’ do not respect Canadians or our veterans is despicable.”
She used the same word to describe parents protesting mask mandates outside a school on the truckers protest in Ottawa. She said while “everyone is entitled” to “free speech,” when “people start sharing messages that encourage violence, waving symbols of hate, desecrating sacred war monuments, vandalizing the statue of hero Terry Fox, that’s where I draw the line.”
This time, Crombie drew the line at herself and her council, saying “there is always room to improve” and “this incident shows we have work to do.”
Saying “workplaces need to be welcoming and safe,” Ras was happy to hear it, but says it will be too late for her to return.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Joe Warmington
Publishing date:Feb 03, 2022 • 8 hours ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation
Ward 2 Councillor Karen Ras resigned from council after what she describes as a two-year ordeal in which her car was allegedly “keyed” eight times in the underground garage by a male member of council.
Ward 2 Councillor Karen Ras resigned from council after what she describes as a two-year ordeal in which her car was allegedly “keyed” eight times in the underground garage by a male member of council. PHOTO BY SUPPLIED /TORONTO SUN
Article content
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie has publicly apologized to an outgoing councillor, saying she should have done more to probe alleged harassment, intimidation and vandalism directed toward her.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Article content
“As a friend and colleague, and as mayor, I should have pushed harder for an investigation,” Crombie said Thursday.
In a rare act of contrition by any politician, the mayor was referring to Ward 2 Councillor Karen Ras, who has resigned from council after what she describes as a two-year ordeal in which her car was allegedly “keyed” eight times in the underground garage by a male member of council.
“I have reflected deeply on this and I realize that I should have done more for Karen, for the residents of Ward 2 and for our City,” said Crombie. “I’m not sure if Karen is watching, but I am sorry.”
A police investigation that produced video evidence of her car being vandalized did not result in charges. However, one of the incidents resulted in $1,200 in damages to her KIA vehicle.
With no charges brought, Ras was no longer comfortable.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Article content
She told the Sun once she saw nothing was going to happen, she realized it “was time to move on” and away from a place where “safety is an issue.” She said she couldn’t get anybody to take her concerns seriously.
The allegations are as shocking as city council not looking at it closer. For that, Crombie has taken responsibility. The mayor said she was “sad” that “flagrant bullying and harassment” led to “Karen resigning from council.”
Crombie said “I am a woman in politics and I’ve been on the receiving end of harassment myself” and “as the leader of council. I should have done everything in my power to protect my friend and colleague. I should have pushed our integrity commissioner to open an investigation on this once the criminal investigation was closed by police.”
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Article content
The mayor now is calling for action — including urging veteran Councillor Ron Starr to step away from council while this situation is thoroughly investigated again. Saying “there’s a glaring gap in our system that must be closed,” Crombie said, “what’s important now is that we make meaningful change so a situation like this never happens again.”
That started with council voting unanimously for “Councillor Starr to take a leave of absence until the investigation is complete.”
Starr, who has not been charged, has yet to comment or return calls.
Meanwhile, Ras’s said she “accepts” Crombie’s apology.
“But what is more important is what happens now,” she said. “This was an eye-opener. It’s a broken system that needs to be fixed.” Ras said she received many calls from other women across all professions who had their own stories of harassment.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Article content
Crombie’s standard-setting apology was the right thing to do since she has been a vocal critic of others she feels do not meet decency standards.
On Don Cherry’s 2019 scandal, she said “to say that ‘you people’ do not respect Canadians or our veterans is despicable.”
She used the same word to describe parents protesting mask mandates outside a school on the truckers protest in Ottawa. She said while “everyone is entitled” to “free speech,” when “people start sharing messages that encourage violence, waving symbols of hate, desecrating sacred war monuments, vandalizing the statue of hero Terry Fox, that’s where I draw the line.”
This time, Crombie drew the line at herself and her council, saying “there is always room to improve” and “this incident shows we have work to do.”
Saying “workplaces need to be welcoming and safe,” Ras was happy to hear it, but says it will be too late for her to return.
WARMINGTON: Mayor Bonnie Crombie 'sorry' for inaction on harassment allegations against councillor
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie has publicly apologized to an outgoing councillor.
