Re: Jacques Jean Plante, 2026 CanLII 15124

minicounsel

ORB File No: 2266

Hearing held on: Monday, February 9, 2026

Place of Hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code

Before:

Alternate Chairperson: Mr. J. Goldenberg

Members: Dr. R. Kunjukrishnan Dr. M. Green Hon. C. Nelson Mr. J. Cyr

Parties Appearing:

Accused: Jacques Jean Plante Counsel: Ms. C. Francis (via Zoom)

The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Mr. J. McIntyre (via Zoom)

Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. D. Brandes

REASONS FOR DISPOSITION

(Dated February 25, 2026)

On March 12, 1996, Jacques Plante was found not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder on a charge of assault.
Mr. Plante is currently subject to a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board dated February 18, 2025, by which he was ordered to be discharged on a number of conditions. We note that one of the conditions in last year’s Disposition was a requirement that Mr. Plante reside at Cedarlane, at 19704 Holland Landing, East Gwillimbury.
On Monday, February 9, 2026, the Ontario Review Board convened a hearing at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (“CAMH”) and conducted the annual review of Mr. Plante’s Disposition.
Mr. Plante was not present at this hearing. We were advised by Ms. Francis that her client is “very frail.” He remains in his residence which is approximately in Newmarket, and it would simply be too difficult for Mr. Plante to attend at CAMH. The Board accepted Ms. Francis’ comments and exercised its discretion pursuant to s. 672.5(10)(a) and permitted Mr. Plante to be absent from this hearing.

At the outset of the hearing, the Board requested the initial position of each of the parties to the hearing.
Mr. McIntyre appeared for CAMH. He advised of the hospital position that Mr. Plante no longer represents a significant threat to public safety, and accordingly, it is the hospital’s position that Mr. Plante is entitled to receive an Absolute Discharge.
Mr. Brandes appeared for the Attorney General. Mr. Brandes supported the hospital’s recommendation.
Ms. Francis appeared for Mr. Plante. Ms. Francis also supported the hospital’s recommendation.

The Board admitted into evidence a Hospital Report dated January 22, 2026. The Hospital Report provides a great deal of information concerning Mr. Plante, his personal history, his mental health history, and his course in hospital and his course in approximately 23 years of living at this residence. As the Hospital Report was made an exhibit in this hearing, it is not necessary to reproduce the information contained in the Hospital Report in these Reasons.
We do note, however, the stated diagnoses of:

In addition to the documentary evidence, the Board heard from Dr. Ugwunze. Dr. Ugwunze has been following Mr. Plante since 2022. Dr. Ugwunze noted that his patient has been “mentally stable” for a number of years. Dr. Ugwunze noted that Mr. Plante is getting older and is getting more frail. He has suffered a number of falls over the last three years. Those falls were significant and had a considerable impact on Mr. Plante’s physical abilities.
Dr. Ugwunze stressed that Mr. Plante is very happy with his residence. Dr. Ugwunze noted that Mr. Plante has follow up for all his physical and mental health needs in his local community. The local doctor prescribes the necessary medication for Mr. Plante.
In response to questions from a panel member, Dr. Ugwunze repeated that his patient is “aging” and has become considerably more fragile.
In response to further questions from panel members, Dr. Ugwunze noted that the recommendation for an Absolute Discharge is a unanimous one. All of the members of the clinical team support the position that Mr. Plante no longer represents a significant threat to public safety.
No other evidence was heard at this hearing.

All parties maintained their original positions, namely that Mr. Plante no longer represents a significant threat to public safety.

The Board accepts the evidence of Dr. Ugwunze, and the evidence contained in the Hospital Report. The Board has considered all of the evidence and has no difficulty in accepting the position of all parties that Mr. Plante no longer represents a significant threat to public safety and accordingly, Mr. Plante is entitled to receive an Absolute Discharge.

DATED this 25th day of February, 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.

Mr. J. Goldenberg Alternate Chairperson

Office of the Registrar

Ontario Review Board