Natalie C. MacDonald

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing for the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault after stabbing another patient at a hospital.

The accused suffers from schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his major mental illness, history of substance use, and minimal insight into his need for treatment.

The Board ordered a detention order at the hospital's forensic service with privileges and conditions, including a prohibition on contacting the victim.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and failing to remain at the scene of an accident.

The accused, who has schizophrenia and substance use disorders, was subject to a detention order at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to the risk of symptom exacerbation linked to substance use or medication non-adherence.

Accepting a joint submission, the Board ordered the continuation of the detention order, amended to allow for 72-hour community passes to facilitate transition to community housing.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for attempted murder, was readmitted to the hospital due to a significant deterioration in his mental state, resulting in a restriction of his liberty for more than seven days.

The Ontario Review Board convened a mandatory hearing to review the restriction.

The Board found that the initial and continuing restriction of liberty was necessary, appropriate, and the least onerous option to manage the accused's risk and meet his needs, noting his substantial improvement following medication adjustments.

The Hospital requested an early review of the accused's conditional discharge after he voluntarily admitted himself following a psychiatric decompensation triggered by substance use.

While in hospital, the accused assaulted a co-patient and was placed on a Form 3.

The Ontario Review Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his major mental illness, polysubstance abuse disorder, and lack of insight.

The Board revoked the conditional discharge and ordered the accused detained on the Forensic Program with privileges, finding it to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary to manage his risk.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for uttering threats, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual review of her disposition.

The hospital and the Crown recommended a Conditional Discharge, supported by the accused's attending psychiatrist who testified that she is fully compliant with treatment and poses a low risk of psychological harm.

The Board accepted the joint submission and ordered a Conditional Discharge.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault and other offences.

The accused has diagnoses of schizophrenia, substance use disorders, and an intellectual developmental disorder.

The hospital, the accused, and the Attorney General jointly submitted that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety and that the current Detention Order should be continued with minor amendments, including the removal of a restriction on using taxis.

The Board accepted the joint submission, finding that the accused's risk of violence remains moderate to high without the structure of the hospital, and ordered the continuation of the Detention Order with the requested amendments.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for first-degree murder.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been residing in a supervised community setting and sought a conditional discharge with a provision allowing up to 30 days of international travel.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.

A conditional discharge was granted, but the Board limited international travel to a maximum of 14 days while accompanied by an approved person, finding insufficient evidence to support a longer, indirectly supervised absence.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for mischief.

The accused suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia and substance use disorders.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his lack of insight, residual symptoms, and likelihood of decompensation if unsupervised.

The Board ordered the continuation of his detention at the hospital's Forensic Service, rejecting the Attorney General's request to mandate that any future community residence be strictly supervised, to preserve the treatment team's flexibility.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault due to a psychotic disorder caused by a medical condition.

The Board heard evidence that the accused's medical condition had been resolved by surgery and her substance use disorder was in remission.

Finding that the accused had demonstrated significant stability in the community and no longer posed a significant threat to public safety, the Board granted an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for robbery and mischief.

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and substance use disorders, had experienced a difficult year with multiple positive drug screens and psychotic symptoms.

The Board accepted the joint submission that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety.

Adopting the hospital's psychiatric evidence, the Board ordered the continuation of the detention disposition but amended the community living privilege to strictly require supervised accommodation.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for first-degree murder due to schizophrenia.

The hospital, the Crown, and the accused jointly submitted that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the current detention order should be continued without amendment.

The Board accepted the joint submission, noting the accused's complex case and the need for a cautious, gradual transition to the community.

The detention order at the forensic program was continued.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for aggravated assault and other offences.

The accused requested amendments to permit international travel and the consumption of cannabis.

The Board unanimously found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his schizophrenia, substance use disorder, and limited insight.

The Board rejected the requested amendments, finding the travel request premature and lacking safety details, and concluding that permitting cannabis consumption would pose an unacceptable risk to public safety.

The detention order was continued without amendment.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment.

The accused requested a conditional discharge or a transfer to CAMH, while the hospital recommended continued detention in the Forensic Program at Ontario Shores.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to his persistent stalking behaviour, lack of insight, and history of medication non-compliance.

The Board ordered continued detention at Ontario Shores, denying the transfer to CAMH, but modified privileges to allow indirectly supervised passes within Ontario.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for aggravated assault.

The accused, who has an intellectual disability, requested the removal of the 24-hour supervision requirement for community living.

The hospital and the Attorney General opposed the change, citing a recent alleged assault in the community and ongoing elopement risk.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and maintained the 24-hour supervision requirement.

The Board also added a no-contact clause regarding the victim of the recent alleged assault.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and polysubstance use disorder, had a successful reporting year with no incidents of violence and remained compliant with medication.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to residual psychotic symptoms and a history of substance use.

However, the Board amended the disposition to permit the accused's transfer to a General Forensic Unit and to allow indirectly supervised community passes, adopting a cautious, stepwise approach to reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault.

The hospital, Crown, and accused jointly submitted that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to public safety.

Relying on the testimony of the attending forensic psychiatrist and the accused's sustained stability, treatment adherence, and lack of symptoms, the Board concluded the accused did not pose a real and substantial risk to the public.

An absolute discharge was granted.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to determine the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault of a peace officer and other offences, following his transfer from British Columbia to Ontario.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia, history of violence, severe substance abuse, and partial insight.

The Board ordered his continued detention at Ontario Shores, with increased community access passes to facilitate family visits and discharge planning.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for attempted murder, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for a mandatory review of his disposition.

The hospital and all parties recommended an absolute discharge.

The Board accepted the evidence of the treating psychiatrist that the accused's schizophrenia is stable, his substance use disorder is in full remission, and he has excellent insight and community support.

Applying the Winko test, the Board concluded the accused no longer poses a significant threat to public safety and ordered an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and aggravated assault.

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had been residing in a group home and managing well, though he continued to use cannabis and experienced occasional insomnia-induced paranoia.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

Adopting the joint submission of the parties, the Board ordered a discharge with conditions, including requirements to reside at his approved residence and consent to treatment.

The plaintiff brought a refusals motion seeking an order that the defendant answer undertakings and refusals from the continued examination for discovery of its representative, and that the representative re-attend for a continued examination.

The motion addressed ten groupings of refusals relating to succession planning, supervisor qualifications and conduct, harassment policy, employment records, conflict of interest, and HR practices in a wrongful dismissal action alleging inducement and misrepresentation.

The court granted some questions and denied others across the groupings, finding divided success.

The defendant was ordered to answer within 45 days and the plaintiff was permitted one further one-hour examination by Zoom.

Each party was ordered to bear its own costs.