Ontario Review Board
Re: Matthew Jamieson
ORB File No: 8612
Hearing held on: Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Place of Hearing: Brockville Mental Health Centre
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. P. Capelle
Members: Dr. S. Lessard
Dr. W. Loza
Ms. J. Fuller
Ms. K. Brisson
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Matthew Jamieson
Counsel: Mr. M. Davies
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. P. Miltenburg
Representative: Dr. R. Linthorst
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. A. Findlay
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated March 9, 2026)
Introduction
On August 23rd, 2024, the accused, Matthew Jamieson, was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on charges of utter threat to cause death or bodily harm, harassment – repeated telecommunications (x3), and fail to comply with release order other than attend court, all contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (“Criminal Code”).
Mr. Jamieson is currently subject to a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board dated November 7th, 2024 and Amended pursuant to ORB Order dated September 17, 2025, which detains him at the Secure Forensic Unit of the Brockville Mental Health Centre with privileges up to and including to live in the community of Eastern Ontario, in accommodation approved by the person in charge.
On December 2nd, 2025, the Ontario Review Board convened at the Brockville Mental Health Centre, hereinafter referred to as “the hospital”, to conduct Mr. Jamieson’s annual review hearing. Mr. Jamieson attended the hearing and was represented by Mr. M. Davies. Ms. Miltenburg appeared on behalf of the hospital and Mr. Findlay appeared on behalf of the Attorney General.
Index Offences
- The circumstances giving rise to the charges on the index offences is summarized in last year’s Reasons for Disposition as follows:
In 2020, Mr. Jamieson was a student in the Algonquin College Paramedic Program. Social distancing protocols due to the Covid-19 pandemic were in place. Classroom instruction was provided only online, and not in person.
When Mr. Jamieson began to experience auditory hallucinations, he decided to leave the program. In the months that followed, Mr. Jamieson began to send emails to his former Algonquin College instructor and to her supervisor at their workplaces. Both individuals are paramedic professionals with the Ottawa Paramedic Service. Mr. Jamieson’s emails became excessive in frequency and threatening in nature, causing both victims to reasonably fear for their safety.
Harassing, Threatening E-mails sent to Ms. M.
In 2023, Mr. Jamieson sent 38 emails to his former instructor Ms. M. The content ranged from initially appropriate, to his mental health issues, to then become more bizarre and delusional, and, at the same time, profoundly abusive and threatening. Degrading language and images, including sexual, were repeatedly used in a set of communications sent from June through to November 2023. Despite Ms. M’s request that Mr. Jamieson cease communication, he continued.
One email, from November 7, 2023, expressed a direct threat: “I don’t give a shit about your pretend going away. I’m going to end your life for allowing your organization to withhold the use of a direct energy weapon in the form of a radio transmission.”
Harassing Emails Sent to Mr. G.
Mr. G. is the Paramedic Service Commander with the Ottawa Paramedic Service. Ms. M. works under his supervision. Between January 1 and February 10, 2024, Mr. Jamieson sent over 120 emails to Mr. G.
The frequency and bizarre content of this separate set of emails caused Mr. G. serious concern, to the extent that he also felt unsafe.
One email said “Mr. G., you are legally obligated to report medical oddities … I’ll take your job please.” Another email said “Mr. G., AEDs signal designed to go entirely through the body or just kind of skip under the surface???? Mr. G. I know you know I know … the doctors are smart enough to interpret the degradation of a signal … they lin …”.
Further emails made bizarre references to Mr. Jamieson’s intention Multiple other strange comments were made: “any training with regards to radio waves should have led you to researching their affects on humans and other wildlife, et cetera …
to tell the commander of the Ottawa Paramedics that I’m in pain from radio wave inducement and there not being a response is enough for me to ask why do I even have a Canadian citizenship? Should I hide in an Ecuadorian Embassy?”
Harassing Emails Sent to Constable F. of the. Ottawa Police Service
Ms. M and Mr. G. complained to the Ottawa Police Service who then laid criminal charges.
The police obtained a warrant for Mr. Jamieson’s arrest. Constable F. was assigned to reach out to Mr. Jamieson with the intention of having him surrender so that he could be assigned a court date and be released from custody while bound by conditions. Constable F. left messages for Mr. Jamieson to contact her. Having been informed that he was the subject of a Warrant, he chose to not turn himself in.
Instead, between February 8 to 14, 2024, Mr. Jamieson sent hundreds of emails to Constable F. at the Ottawa Police station. Again, the content was full of bizarre and highly abusive language, including veiled and overt threats to kill.
Fail to Comply with Release Conditions
On February 20, 2024, Mr. Jamieson was arrested in Brockville. He had just been discharged from the Brockville hospital where he had been seen in the emergency department for his Schizophrenia. Once transported to Ottawa, Mr. Jamieson was released on bail conditions that he not contact the three victims.
Following his release from custody, Mr. Jamieson re-offended. He sent at least 6 emails to Ms. M., four to Mr. G. and at least two to Constable F. On March 11, 2024, Ms. M. reported the unwanted contacts to the Ottawa Police.
Mr. Jamieson was arrested at the Brockville Jail, where he had been kept in custody since March 6, 2024, on offences in other jurisdictions.”
Criminal History
- Mr. Jamieson’s only previous contact with the legal system was in August 2022. A mischief charge arose during his belief that the neighbour’s car was talking to him. In response, he poured gasoline on it and walked away. The court process saw him go through the mental health court diversion program. The charge was ultimately withdrawn.
Personal History
Mr. Jamieson’s personal history is set out in the hospital report (Exhibit 1) and summarized below.
Mr. Jamieson has one sibling, a younger sister who resides in Peterborough with her current partner and her partner’s two children. His mother passed away in 2023 from complications due to a liver transplant. His father resides in Smiths Falls.
Mr. Jamieson had a positive high school experience, where he was the “class clown” with lots of friends, but no close friends. In class, he achieved good grades. Mr. Jamieson participated in the school band and travelled to multiple cities and schools in North America with the brass band. He also played guitar in other bands.
In Grade 11, Mr. Jamieson started to become more depressed. He often felt like the “odd man out,” despite the fact that he was well liked at school. He noticed that he did not have any romantic relationships and was struggling with having both parents heavily medicated at home.
In 2014, Mr. Jamieson graduated from the Bachelor of Science program at Sir Wilfred Laurier University, with a focus in biology. It took him longer to complete the degree due to having reduced his course load several times while he was stressed and struggling to cope with social anxiety and his mental health.
In the Fall of 2020, Mr. Jamieson enrolled in the Algonquin College paramedic program. He completed a full semester and then went on medical leave. In the Fall of 2021, he tried to return to studies but was in a “dire state of duress” with hallucinations. He believed he was being harassed with an electromagnetic frequency weapon. He felt the stress returning and began sending off the harassing emails. Algonquin College issued a no-trespass order which essentially withdrew him from the paramedic program.
Since the age of 13, Mr. Jamieson has maintained employment in various jobs, including tree planting, working in a chip truck, working at a grocery store, fast-food restaurant, air duct fabrication shop, as an arborist, and at a margarine plant. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree and later worked for Promark Telecom and formed his own tree removal business. He was employed by another utilities company, Premier Locates and was employed full time with Black & MacDonald doing underground detection of pipes and electrical lines until the time of his incarceration.
Mr. Jamieson has a strong work history prior to entering the forensic psychiatric system. He has had periods of seasonal unemployment, due to the nature of his work. During these winter months of unemployment, he was supported by Employment Insurance. He has never been fired from a job or a recipient of Ontario Works. Prior to his hospitalization, he had not been on the Ontario Disability Support Program.
Mr. Jamieson reported that he was diagnosed as child with Scheuermann’s Disease. This relates to his acute intermittent episodes of lower back pain that can last anywhere from weeks to months. The disorder apparently involves discrepancies in the timing of growth in muscles versus the bones (i.e. in the back). It can involve an abnormal excessive curvature of the spine in the thoracic and lumbar regions.
Mr. Jamieson’s father, David, has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s related dementia. He lives alone in his own residence in Smiths Falls and receives some in-home supports.
Psychiatric History
- Mr. Jamieson’s psychiatric history is set out in detail in pages 11-20 of the Hospital Report. A brief chronology is provided below.
a. 2007-2008 - Mr. Jamieson began experiencing auditory hallucinations and paranoia in his first year of university. He began to isolate himself socially. By his second year of university, the voices instructed him to cut himself, which he did repeatedly. His acts of self-harm, which included carving the word “hope” into his leg, scared Mr. Jamieson and prompted him to seek medical support through the emergency department of his local hospital. He was assessed by a psychiatrist and social worker and prescribed anti-psychotics. The medication helped him with his depression, self-harm, voices, and paranoia, but he discontinued them after 30 days and did not follow-up for further treatment. He began to drink alcohol excessively and self-medicate with cannabis.
b. 2020 - Mr. Jamieson experienced significant personal stress related to his mother’s cancer diagnosis while she was awaiting a liver transplant. He was consuming cannabis daily and occasionally using cocaine. He began exhibiting odd behaviours in his family home, including speaking to inanimate objects, paranoia and making delusional posts on social media. When confronted by his family about this odd behaviour, he would have no recollection of what they were referring to or believed that his social media accounts had bene hacked. He became violent, throwing glass bottles around the house, and talking to himself. This led his family to contact police and have Mr. Jamieson taken to the hospital on a Form 1. When assessed at the hospital, Mr. Jamieson advised that he was hearing four distinct voices commanding his life throughout the day. One specific voice was directing him to end his life. He reported that he was overwhelmed by the stress of his paramedic program and living back in his parents’ home, where he felt “stuck.” He was held for involuntary admission and prescribed a low-dose antipsychotic. His symptoms rapidly improved upon discharge, and he was referred for out-patient follow-up.
c. November 2021 - Mr. Jamieson brought himself to the Queensway-Carleton hospital emergency department, as he was having difficulty with self-harm ideations and was superficially cutting his left inner thigh. He reported that he was hearing five different voices, including one that was threatening. He had decided that his prescribed low-dose anti-psychotic was too low and increased the dosage. This caused him to run out of medication before his next appointment with his psychiatrist, which was scheduled for the same day. He reported that he was hearing five different voices, including one that was threatening. He was consuming cannabis but trying to cut down. He was discharged from the emergency department to attend his psychiatrist appointment.
d. September 2022 - Police brought Mr. Jamieson to the Smith Falls community hospital. He had been arrested and charged with an offence of mischief for pouring gasoline on a neighbour's car. The incident was captured on video. Mr. Jamieson had no recollection of the incident and advised that he had “absolutely no reason” to be upset with the neighbour, who he had never met. While being fingerprinted, he advised the police officer that he was having command hallucinations that were directing him to take the officer’s gun from its holster. The offence was preceded by several stressors, including seeing his neighbour fall off a ladder and injure his head, his mother’s hospital admission, completing a year of his paramedic program, and fluctuating levels of tinnitus. He was consuming 1-2 ounces of cannabis per week at this time.
e. December 9-14, 2022 - Police found Mr. Jamieson in the middle of the street shouting and screaming at people and intimidating others and brought him to the hospital. At the Smiths Falls community hospital emergency department, he was threatening to staff, including the emergency physician. A urine drug screen came back, positive for cannabis. Mr. Jamieson was then admitted and kept at the Brockville General Hospital on psychiatric admission where he stayed until December 14, 2022. On December 14, the attending psychiatrist felt that his psychosis has fully remitted. The discharge diagnosis was an unspecified psychotic disorder although it was added that an autism spectrum disorder should also be ruled out as a possible factor.
f. February 15 – 20, 2024 - The police brought Mr. Jamieson again to the Smiths Falls Community Hospital due to concerns for psychosis. He was sent to the Brockville General Hospital and kept there on psychiatric admission on a Form 1 until being discharged on February 20, 2024. Several concerns are documented in the hospital report including a note that police had contacted Mr. Jamieson’s sister. She disclosed her concerns about Mr. Jamieson’s recent online posts. Mr. Jamieson had stated that he wanted to let certain politicians know about the injustices people have experienced in Canada. The sister confirmed many stressors describing Mr. Jamieson, including that their father had been victimized by online scammers to the tune of $50,000.
- In late February and March 2024, Mr. Jamieson was arrested by the Brockville Police and Ottawa Police on multiple charges. He was detained and transferred to the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre (“OCDC”). Mr. Jamieson was transferred to the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre (“ROMHC”) for ten days in August 2024 to undergo his assessment for criminal responsibility. He was then transferred back to OCDC where he remained until he was transferred to Brockville Mental Health Centre (“BMHC”) on November 25, 2024.
Substance Use History
Mr. Jamieson reported that he began to use cannabis at age 16. By the age of 19, he was using daily at a rate of up to seven grams per week. In the months leading up to October 2023 when his mother passed away, he was using about an ounce per week. He felt that cannabis helped him sleep while dulling the auditory hallucinations.
Between the ages of 16 to 19, Mr. Jamieson would consume alcohol every weekend, usually at a rate of a 26-ounce liquor bottle each night. He would also drink six beers at a time. He decided to stop due to issues with acid reflux.
Mr. Jamieson began using cocaine in his fourth University year, shortly after a breakup with his girlfriend. He would use less than half a gram each weekend for about six months. Subsequently, he used about once a month, every four years. In July 2020, he stopped after a blood test showed a positive result for opioids giving rise to his concern that his cocaine was laced.
Mr. Jamieson reported very limited use of LSD and psychedelic mushrooms which produced panic attacks. He described a very high consumption of coffee at four litres daily including up to five extra-large double doubles daily.
Current Diagnoses
Schizophrenia
Cannabis Use Disorder, in remission
Evidence
The Board admitted into evidence the Hospital Report dated September 24th, 2025, and an Addendum to that report dated November 21st, 2025, as Exhibit 1. Those documents provide a great deal of information concerning Mr. Jamieson’s personal history, mental health history as well as his course in hospital and in the community both prior to and subsequence to the index offence(s). As the Hospital Report was made an Exhibit, it is unnecessary to reproduce the information contained therein in these Reasons.
In terms of Mr. Jamieson’s progress at BMHC over the past few months, it is important to note the following positive changes that are detailed in portions of the Hospital Report authored by Dr. Carefoot, who did not testify at the hearing:
Mr. Jamieson transitioned from the Forensic Treatment Unit to the Murray Street House, a group home where he has been managing his own ODSP finances and transitioning to administering his own medications
At Murray Street, Mr. Jamieson is responsible for buying and cooking his own meals, laundry and cleaning his own room. He is seen by an outpatient team member once a week and is responsible to check into the residence nightly by 9 pm
Mr. Jamieson participates in vocational program and multiple times per week engages in car washing, lawn maintenance and working at a hospital café
Mr. Jamieson’s has expressed increased insight into his own mental illness, which includes acknowledging that continued addictions counselling, as abstinence from the use of cannabis and illicit substances, are critical components of his treatment and recognition of his psychotic symptoms
Mr. Jamieson now expresses gratitude for the intervention of the review board in addressing his mental health issues; he previously did not believe he would benefit from psychotherapeutic interventions
Mr. Jamieson has expressed insight into the index offences and understands how upsetting his emails could have been for the persons receiving them
Mr. Jamieson’s current stability and respect for the rules of his residence, lead the treatment team to believe that future decompensation in the community could be managed under the Mental Health Act
- In addition to the documentary evidence the Board also heard oral testimony from Dr. Linthorst. Dr. Linthorst has been treating Mr. Jamieson since October 1, 2025. Through his written evidence and oral testimony, Dr. Linthorst highlighted the following:
Mr. Jamieson remains at Murray Street, where he is described as a “model resident”
Mr. Jamieson has not had any positive psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions over the past two months
He presents with some negative symptoms, such as restricted emotional expression and, at times, a lack of motivation
Mr. Jamieson’s father and sister are both positive supports
A move closer to his father in Smiths Falls would be seen as a positive step, but there are some practical realties to address in terms of ensuring that the FITT team can maintain supports for Mr. Jamieson
Mr. Jamieson is deemed to be of high functional status for independent living on his most recent occupational therapy assessment in March 2025
If Mr. Jamieson receives a conditional discharge, the team will assess the suitability of Mr. Jamieson’s father’s residence as a potential residence, keeping in mind that placing him in a caregiver role, could be a potential future stressor for him; if this is not a suitable residence, other living options will be explored, such as the social housing registry
Mr. Jamieson wishes to secure employment once he returns to Smiths Falls
Mr. Jamieson will be able to continue accessing group therapies offered by the BMHC on an out-patient basis, even while residing in Smiths Falls
The treatment team has been able to support other individuals in the community, including those residing further away from BMHC than Smiths Falls
Closing Submissions
Counsel for the hospital submitted that Mr. Jamieson continues to pose a significant risk to the safety of the public and that the least restrictive disposition is a conditional discharge.
Both counsel for the Attorney General and Mr. Jamieson maintained that that Mr. Jamieson continues to pose a significant risk to the public and a conditional discharge is the necessary and appropriate disposition.
Analysis and Decision
(a) Significant Threat
Ongoing significant threat to the safety of the public cannot be speculative. It must entail a real risk of serious physical or psychological harm arising from a criminal offence.
In determining whether Mr. Jamieson continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public the Board has carefully analyzed the evidence as it relates to the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Winko, 1999 CanLII 694 (SCC), [1999] 2 S.C.R. 625.
The Board unanimously finds that Mr. Jamieson continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public. In arriving at this determination, the Board considered the joint position of the parties and accepted the uncontroverted hospital evidence, including the testimony of Dr. Linthorst that Mr. Jamieson continues to pose a significant threat. The Board also relies on the detailed Hospital Report and the evidence that Mr. Jamieson suffers from a major mental illness set out above. The Board considered the recency of Mr. Jamieson’s insight into his illness, including the need for ongoing medication and abstinence from cannabis.
(b) Necessary and Appropriate
- Flowing from the Board’s finding that Mr. Jamieson continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public it must shape a Disposition for the year ahead. Its paramount consideration in doing so must be the safety of the public while also considering Mr. Jamieson’ needs pursuant to s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code. Therefore, the Board unanimously determines that the necessary and appropriate Disposition required to manage the threat Mr. Jamieson poses to the safety of the public while still meeting his needs, is a conditional discharge with the conditions as set out in the Hospital Report, as well as the requirement that Mr. Jamieson not reside with his father, unless approved by a person in charge of the Hospital. Given Mr. Jamieson’s recognition of his symptoms of decompensation, his commitment to maintaining stable health, and his familial and treatment supports, the Board finds that Mr. Jamieson’s risk in the community can be managed under the Mental Health Act.
Conclusion
In making this Disposition, the Board carefully considered the positions and submissions of the parties and the evidence of Dr. Linthorst and is satisfied that this determination is both necessary and appropriate. The Board reviewed the provisions of s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code and carefully considered the need to protect the public from dangerous persons, Mr. Jamieson’ mental condition and his reintegration into society and other needs.
The Board wishes to commend Mr. Jamieson for his positive progress over the last year and wishes him well in his transition back into the community.
DATED this 9th day of March, 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Ms. J. Fuller
Legal Member
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Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board