Ontario Review Board
Re: Philip Leak
ORB File No: 8262
Hearing held on: Thursday, November 20, 2025
Place of Hearing: Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. P. Hageraats
Members: Dr. S. Lessard Dr. R. Kunjukrishnan Ms. J. Fuller Mr. A. Bouvier
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Philip Leak Counsel: Mr. P. Azzi
Person in charge of hospital: Representative: Dr. A. Sandhu
Attorney-General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. M. Dufort
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated January 8, 2026)
Introduction
Mr. Philip Leak was tried in Court on charges of arson (reckless disregard of human life) and possession of a weapon (crossbow) when prohibited by court order. These are offences contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada.
The Court was presented with psychiatric evidence establishing that Mr. Leak suffered from a severe mental disorder at the time he committed the offences. On March 15, 2023, the Court ruled he was not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder ("NCR").
Mr. Leak is subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board ("ORB" or "the Board") dated October 17, 2024. He was ordered detained at the Secure Forensic Unit of the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre ("ROMHC" or "the hospital"). Mr. Leak was awarded privileges, including to live in the community in accommodation approved by the hospital.
The disposition prohibited him from having any contact with the victims of the index offence. Mr. Leak was also required to not be within 200 metres of their residence, or where they are known to be present.
On November 20, 2025, the Board convened at the hospital to conduct an annual review. Mr. Leak was present as was his case manager with the Ottawa Salus Housing Program.
A victim of the index offence, Ms. B., attended the hearing.
Documents were filed in evidence:
- Hospital Report dated November 5, 2025
- Victim Impact Statement, from 2023
- Victim Impact Statement, from 2024
- The issues for this hearing are whether Mr. Leak represents a significant threat to the safety of the public, and, if so, to determine the disposition that is necessary and appropriate in the circumstances.
Initial Positions of the Parties
The hospital representative recommended that Mr. Leak be discharged, subject to conditions. Counsel for Mr. Leak agreed with the hospital recommendation. Counsel appearing for the Attorney-General reserved their position.
For the reasons set out below, Mr. Leak was ordered discharged, subject to conditions.
Current Psychiatric Diagnoses, Hospital Report, pages 39-40
- Mr. Leak's current diagnoses are:
- Schizophrenia
- Cannabis Use Disorder, in sustained remission
- Mr. Leak continues to be treated with antipsychotic medication, Abilify, in long-acting injectable form, 400 mg every four weeks.
Index Offences of November 7 and 8, 2022
- The circumstances are described in the hospital report and in last year's Reasons for Disposition dated October 17, 2024. In summary:
On November 7, 2022, shortly before midnight, five residents in a private home were asleep. They woke to the smoke alarm. Ottawa Police Fire Service extinguished the fire. Ottawa Police investigated.
On that date, Mr. Leak was living next door in the basement of his parents' home.
Video surveillance footage showed Mr. Leak wearing black shoes, black pants, a black hoodie with some type of face logo on the chest, and, on his face, a white Halloween mask. Mr. Leak was carrying a reusable shopping bag. He had poured a volatile liquid (gasoline) on the floor mat of the dwelling's east door. Footage showed Mr. Leak pouring gasoline steadily on the ground next to the east wall of the house, right up to the south-east corner. Mr. Leak lit the gasoline at the north-east corner igniting it all the way to the east door. Rising flames went as high as the elevated camera, blinding the camera.
Police at the scene took photographs. They seized a red gas can found in a green reusable grocery bag.
On November 8, 2022, Ottawa Police attended Mr. Leak's home to conduct a door knock. They were met by Mr. Leak's father. Asking if they could speak with Philip Leak, who lived in the basement at the same address, they were invited inside and shown to the basement. The father knocked on the door to Philip Leak's room. The father told the officers they could enter to confirm Philip Leak's presence.
When they entered the room, Philip Leak was not present. However, the officers observed a large crossbow, fully cocked, in plain sight next to Philip Leak's bed. The father advised the police the only parties living in the house were Philip Leak and his mother and father, and that Philip Leak was the only person living in the basement.
The crossbow was seized. Further investigation revealed that Philip