Ontario Review Board
Re: Matthew Rankin
ORB File No: 7631
Hearing held on: Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Place of hearing: Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences 700 Gordon Street, Whitby
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. G. Beasley
Members: Dr. S. Chatterjee Dr. M. Kalia Mr. R. Bigelow Ms. B. Little
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Matthew Rankin Counsel: Ms. M. Addie
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. A. Marshall
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. N. MacDonald
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated December 30, 2025)
Introduction
On November 5, 2019, the accused Matthew Rankin, was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on charges of mischief over $5000 and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, all contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. By reason of a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board (“ORB”) dated December 3, 2024, Mr. Rankin was ordered to be discharged subject to conditions which included residing in supportive housing associated with Durham Mental Health Services, abstaining absolutely from the non-medical use of alcohol or drugs or any other intoxicant and reporting to the person in charge of the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences or his or her designate, not less than once every two weeks.
On November 26, 2025, the ORB convened a hearing at Ontario Shores for the purpose of the annual review of Mr. Rankin's Disposition pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Rankin was in attendance and represented by counsel, Ms. Addie. Ms. Marshall appeared as the representative of the hospital and Ms. MacDonald as counsel for the Attorney General of Ontario.
Index Offence
- The circumstances of the index offence are as follows:
“1. Uttering Threats to Cause Death or Bodily Harm
The General Occurrence Report noted the following:
On August 19, 2019, the Privy Council Office (PCO) received an email threat directed at the current Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. Within the content of the email, the writer stated that, "Hi, Mr. Prime Minister, I am goin to kill you". The email appeared to be authored by Matthew Thomas Rankin. Within the email, Mr. Rankin referred to himself as "king,” "pharaoh", "Dean of CSIS", "The Man under the Crown", "Emperor of Imperial Canada" and "The Greater God Sunsetdawn". The email account used to send the email was identified as being pharaohxking@gmail.com. The Federal Policing Intake unit was notified of the threat.
- Mischief/Damage Property Over $5000
The Crown Brief Synopsis provided the following information:
On August 23, 2019 at 0400 hrs, Mr. Matthew Rankin attended the OC Transpo Hurdman Light Rail Station at 1432 Riverside Drive in the City of Ottawa. The station was under construction and was not open to the public. Mr. Rankin accessed the station by climbing a scaffold and falling into the facility.
Mr. Rankin walked to numerous wall screen monitors, fare gate screens, upright glass walls, and he produced a small hand-held size axe. Mr. Rankin began swinging the axe and striking the screens and property, causing damage to the facility that was estimated to be in excess of $100,000.00.
The damage was located the next morning, and a report was made to the Ottawa Police. The incident clearly captured Mr. Rankin intentionally causing the damages. A broadcast was sent out with clear images of Mr. Rankin holding the axe. Later that night, OC Transpo Special Constables observed Mr. Rankin in the wooded area near the Hurdman Transit Station. The Ottawa Police were contacted, and in the wooded area a tent, with a large amount of clutter indicating a longterm living arrangement. Inside, the same sweater worn by Mr. Rankin and the axe were observed in plain view and seized.
Mr. Rankin was located laying down in tall grass attempting not to be seen by Police. He matched the male seen on video causing the damages and he was arrested. Mr. Rankin made numerous statements that were nonsensical and indicative of disordered thinking, namely that he was a king and a pharaoh, that he owned the station, that he was in charge of CSIS, and further that when the Light Rail Station opened, it would be like September 11 all over again.”
Current Diagnoses
- Mr. Rankin’s current diagnoses are as follows:
Schizophrenia
Cannabis Use Disorder (severe, in sustained remission)
Conduct Disorder (adolescent onset, severe)
Background and Personal History
Mr. Rankin's background and personal history are reviewed in detail in the Hospital Report which was filed as an exhibit. By way of summary, at the time of the hearing Mr. Rankin was a 44-year-old single man with no children. Mr. Rankin’s biological father left when he was approximately 4 months old, and his stepfather has been in his life since the age of 7. His mother reported that Mr. Rankin would quite often run away from home at the age of 13 or 14. Resulting from behavioural difficulties, especially with his mother, he was kicked out of the family home in his early teens. Mr. Rankin was sent to live with his mother’s sister in Bracebridge to finish Grade 12 due to difficulty keeping him in school. Mr. Rankin completed high school but was involved in many fights and was suspended on multiple occasions. Mr. Rankin was then sent to live with his grandparents in Toronto and studied college level music for a year and a half before leaving the program. He lived in Peterborough for seven years. He was supported by the Ontario Disability Support Program (“ODSP”) benefits for several years.
With respect to substance use, both Mr. Rankin and his family report cannabis use starting in high school and continuing heavy use of cannabis to the time of the index offences. At the time of the index offences, Mr. Rankin had been living in the Rideau Forest in the Ottawa area. He did not have any contact with family members or mental health services when he was living with no fixed address. Mr. Rankin provided various delusional explanations for his involvement in the index offences. He reported that he had threatened to kill the Prime Minister on more than one occasion in the past two or three years because Prime Minister Trudeau was attempting to assassinate him. He further advised that he was a Monarch and was conducting a big investigation into money laundering in Canada.
Mental Health History
- There is no information found in the Hospital Report of any treatment for mental health issues prior to March of 2017. On March 20, 2017, Mr. Rankin attended Peterborough Regional Health Centre with a family member who was concerned about his mental health and was considering asking for a Form 2 for psychiatric assistance. Mr. Rankin left the ER without being seen by a physician. On April 4, 2017, Mr. Rankin was admitted to Peterborough Regional Health Centre on a Form 1. He left the hospital after the Form expired on April 7, 2017. His discharge diagnoses were other specified psychotic disorder, cannabis use disorder, severe, rule out cannabis induced psychosis and rule out mood disorder not otherwise specified. On August 15, 2017, Mr. Rankin was brought to Peterborough Regional Health Centre by police under the Mental Health Act. He was seen by a doctor and referred to a community agency to be seen at home. He was diagnosed with anxiety, paranoid, and delusional ideations.
Criminal History
- At the time of the index offence, Mr. Rankin did not have an adult criminal record. As a young offender he was convicted of arson and spent four years in a group home.
Position of the Parties
At the outset of the hearing, Ms. Marshall submitted that Mr. Rankin continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. However, Ms. Marshall submitted that given Mr. Rankin's progress over the past reporting year, it was not necessary to specify an address condition in the Conditional Discharge Disposition. Ms. Marshall also submitted that the Disposition should be amended to permit Mr. Rankin to consume cannabis purchased from a licensed dispensary.
Ms. Addie and Ms. MacDonald supported the recommendation of the hospital.
Evidence
The evidence on behalf of the hospital was presented by Dr. Bhullar. She is Mr. Rankin’s attending psychiatrist in the Outpatient Service. By way of update, Dr. Bhullar stated that as of the week of the hearing Mr. Rankin was having sleep issues due to anxiety related to the ORB hearing. The treatment team had decided to undertake a trial of new medications. Dr. Bhullar stated that for some time Mr. Rankin had complained of muscle pain following his long-acting injections. He requested a change to oral medication, and this was done. After the change was made the treatment team increased their number of visits to Mr. Rankin at his residence and did not observe any change in his mental status. In addition, the Urine Drug Screens (UDS), all returned positive indications for his prescribed medications. Mr. Rankin had been found to be capable to consent to his own medications in February of 2025. Dr. Bhullar stated that he has good insight into his illness and into his need for medication. Dr. Bhullar stated that Mr. Rankin's insight into his illness has improved significantly since the last Board hearing in 2024. He acknowledges that he suffers from the major mental illness of schizophrenia and has insight into the symptoms of his illness. He has developed insight into his need for medication and has been participating in programs. Dr. Bhullar stated that Mr. Rankin is stable psychiatrically. He has a positive relationship with his family. Importantly, Mr. Rankin has had employment working at Costco since September 2025. He is presently working two to four shifts a week at Costco. Dr. Bhullar stated that there have been no concerns expressed from either Mr. Rankin’s employer or the staff at his supportive home residence. Dr. Bhullar referred to Mr. Rankin as having made “tremendous improvement.” Dr. Bhullar specifically pointed out that Mr. Rankin had worked very hard to get his employment.
With respect to housing, Dr. Bhullar stated that Mr. Rankin is currently in a low support group home which is a transitional space. The next step in his reintegration is for him to move into independent housing in the community. He will be able to stay at the group home until he is placed in a more independent living situation. Mr. Rankin is currently on the DASH waitlist, but this can be very long in duration. Dr. Bhullar stated that Mr. Rankin is quite happy with his current living situation.
Ms. Marshall asked Dr. Bhullar about the recommendation of the hospital that Mr. Rankin be permitted to use cannabis purchased from a licensed dispensary. Dr. Bhullar stated that for some time Mr. Rankin has complained about difficulties sleeping and expressed the desire to use small amounts of cannabis as a sleep aid. Dr. Bhullar said the team have decided to trial Mr. Rankin on mirtazapine to assist with his sleeping. If this does not help then the team support the request to use cannabis. Dr. Bhullar testified that Mr. Rankin has insight into the diagnosis of cannabis use disorder. He also has insight into the circumstances of the index offence where he was making significant use of cannabis and was not on any form of medication. He has requested to trial cannabis while he is under the jurisdiction of the ORB. Dr. Bhullar said that Mr. Rankin has completed programs for substance abuse including concurrent disorder counseling from February of 2024 to February of 2025. He was in groups until April 2025 and then switched to 1:1 counseling.
Dr. Bhullar described Mr. Rankin’s use plan for cannabis. He would like to use it on the nights that he has to work in order to get better sleep. His plan is to use only one-half gram for this purpose. He has also indicated to the treatment team that he will start using CBD only and will present receipts to the treatment team as proof of purchase. Mr. Rankin has agreed that if his mental state begins to decompensate then he will stop taking cannabis and possibly return to the hospital in order to be stabilized. Dr. Bhullar stated that with Mr. Rankin’s willingness to return to hospital and with the assistance of the Mental Health Act that his risk can be safely managed in the community with the proposed amendments. The treatment team also have a plan to connect Mr. Rankin with non-forensic mental health support over the next reporting year.
Ms. MacDonald asked Dr. Bhullar about the treatment team’s confidence in Mr. Rankin's ability to self-monitor given the diagnosis of cannabis use disorder (severe). Dr. Bhullar reiterated that Mr. Rankin appreciates the severity of his use disorder and its involvement at the time of the commission of the index offence. He understands that if he used more than what has been indicated then it will compromise his mental state. In addition, Mr. Rankin fully understands the consequences of using more cannabis which might include his loss of housing, loss of family support and importantly, loss of employment. Dr. Bhullar stated that the recommendation to permit the use of cannabis was a decision made jointly by the treatment team and Mr. Rankin. He has indicated to the team that he does not wish to move to an Absolute Discharge until such time as he has been able to successfully use cannabis while under the jurisdiction of the ORB.
Ms. Addie did not have any questions for Dr. Bhullar.
In response to questions from the Board, Dr. Bhullar stated that she did not know if Mr. Rankin had completed his test for sleep apnea under the supervision of his family doctor. Dr. Bhullar was asked about the possible risk of resuming the use of cannabis for someone with a diagnosis of a severe cannabis use disorder. Dr. Bhullar stated that the treatment team were mindful of the risk involved but that Mr. Rankin had made significant improvement in his insight into the use of cannabis and the potential consequences and that the proposed use would take place while Mr. Rankin remained under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Review Board. Finally, Dr. Bhullar stated that Mr. Rankin was unlikely to move into independent housing because he would be financially unable to pay market rents.
Neither Ms. MacDonald nor Ms. Addie called evidence at the hearing.
Submissions
At the conclusion of the evidence, Ms. Marshall reiterated the submission made at the outset of the hearing that Mr. Rankin continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public but that he can continue to be managed under the provisions of a Conditional Discharge with the amendments as suggested.
Ms. MacDonald supported the recommendation of the hospital.
Ms. Addie also supported the recommendation of the hospital. She submitted that Mr. Rankin has been open and transparent with the treatment team and as set out by Dr. Bhullar, he has developed a robust insight into the use of cannabis and his major mental illness.
Analysis and Disposition
Both at the outset of the hearing and in closing submissions, the Board was presented with a joint submission that Mr. Rankin continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. As set out in the Hospital Report, Mr. Rankin’s risk factors include a history of major mental illness, schizophrenia; a history of substance use, and violence dating back to his youth. In her evidence, Dr. Bhullar outlined the significant improvement which Mr. Rankin has made in all spheres. He has insight into his illness and his need for medication, he has a stable residence, and he has been successful in obtaining employment in the community. In the primary re-offense scenario of future violence set out in the actuarial risk analysis portion of the Hospital Report, the most likely re-offense scenario would be if Mr. Rankin were to experience an exacerbation of psychotic symptoms due to difficulties coping with stressors including employment, independent living, and the possible relapse secondary to substance use, and/or treatment noncompliance. Decompensation in his mental state could lead to aggressive behaviour and destruction of property putting others at risk for psychological or physical harm. The clinical assessment of risk states that there would be an increased risk of violence if Mr. Rankin were to return to cannabis use without supervision and support. The Board is unanimous in accepting the opinion of Dr. Bhullar and the joint submission of counsel that Mr. Rankin continues to represent a significant threat as defined in s. 672.5401 of the Criminal Code.
Mr. Rankin has demonstrated considerable success in adjusting to the transition to the supported housing where he currently resides. As set out by Dr. Bhullar in her evidence, Mr. Rankin's current residence is considered to be transitional housing. Mr. Rankin has been placed on the DASH waiting list for lower support housing in the community. There may be opportunities with other social service agencies for housing and to this end, the hospital has recommended the deletion of the residence clause requiring housing to be connected to Durham Mental Health Services. The Board is unanimous in supporting this recommendation.
The hospital has also recommended that Mr. Rankin be permitted to use cannabis in order to assist him with sleep difficulties. Although mindful of the diagnosis that Mr. Rankin suffers from a severe cannabis use disorder, the recommendation is based upon Mr. Rankin demonstrating his insight into his cannabis use disorder and its involvement in the circumstances of the index offence. Mr. Rankin also has insight into the fact that he was noncompliant with medication at the time of the index offence. Mr. Rankin has been open and forthright with the treatment team about his wishes and together with the treatment team has developed a plan which would allow him to use small quantities of CBD purchased from a licensed dispensary to assist with sleep on the nights when he is required to work the next day. In her evidence, Dr. Bhullar said that Mr. Rankin himself proposed this amendment and stated that he did not wish to commence using cannabis without being under the jurisdiction of the ORB. The Board is unanimous in accepting the evidence of Dr. Bhullar that with cannabis use in the fashion which has been described, Mr. Rankin can still safely be managed in the community without an increase to the existing risk of safety for the public.
DATED this 30^th^ day of December 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Mr. G. Beasley
Alternate Chairperson
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Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board