Ontario Review Board
Re: Stewart Hunt
ORB Files No: 7820/7928
Hearing held on: Wednesday March 4, 2026
Place of Hearing: St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. R. Bigelow
Members: Dr. K. Hand Dr. T. Stirpe Mr. K. McKenna Ms. M. McKinnon
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Stewart Hunt Counsel: Ms. M. Addie
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. L. Barney
Attorney-General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. C. Gzik
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated March 27, 2026)
Introduction
On December 15, 2020, Mr. Hunt was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on charges of criminal harassment (x2), failure to comply with probation order (x4), all contrary to the Criminal Code. In addition, on August 16, 2021, Mr. Hunt was further found not criminally responsible on two counts of criminal harassment, four counts of failing to comply with a probation order and two counts of disobeying a court order, all contrary to the Criminal Code.
Mr. Hunt is currently subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board (the Board) dated March 14 2025 ordering his detention at the Forensic Psychiatry Program of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (the Hospital) with privileges up to and including entering the community of Hamilton indirectly supervised.
On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the Board convened a hearing to review Mr. Hunt’s disposition pursuant to section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Hunt was present at the hearing and represented by counsel, Ms. Addie.
The issues to be determined at the hearing were whether Mr. Hunt continued to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public as defined in section 672.5401 of the Criminal Code and, if so, what was the necessary and appropriate disposition that was also the least onerous and least restrictive, taking into account the factors set out in 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
Initial Positions of the Parties
At the commencement of the hearing the parties were requested to provide their initial without prejudice positions with respect to the issues before the Board. Counsel for the Hospital submitted that Mr. Hunt continued to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the necessary and appropriate disposition was a continuation of the current detention order with the terms as recommended at page 92 of the Hospital Report and with an amendment to vary the terms by replacing the reference to “catchment area of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, West fifth campus” with the term “Southern Ontario”.
Counsel for the Attorney General supported the Hospital’s position and emphasized the importance of the condition prohibiting contact with the victim of the index offences.
Counsel for Mr. Hunt supported the Hospital position and specifically conceded the issue of significant threat.
Evidence at the hearing
- The evidence at the hearing consisted of the Hospital Report dated February 12, 2026 and the oral evidence of Dr. J. Ferencz, Mr. Hunt’s most responsible physician until approximately one month prior to the hearing.
Findings:
- For the Reasons that follow, the Board finds that Mr. Hunt continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the necessary and appropriate disposition is a continuation of the current detention order with the terms and conditions jointly recommended by the parties with the additional condition requiring Mr. Hunt to report dating or romantic relationships to the person in charge or designate.
Index Offences:
- The circumstances surrounding the alleged index offences as summarized in the Hospital Report are as follows:
December 15, 2020 NCR Finding
On February 5, 2020, Mr. Hunt was convicted for Uttering Threat to cause death, FTC Release conditions, Assault X 2 and FTC probation order. The presiding judge at the Ontario Court of Justice (North York) sentenced Mr. Hunt to a three-year term of probation with several conditions including: One of the conditions was "Do not contact or communicate in any way, either directly or indirectly, by any physical, electronic or other means with AR."
On March 31, 2020, Mr. Hunt was convicted for failing to comply with a probation order. The presiding Judge at the Ontario Court of Justice sentenced Mr. Hunt to jail and a three-year term of probation set to start on October 10, 2020. One of the conditions was "Do not contact or communicate in any way, either directly or indirectly, by any physical, electronic or other means, with AR."
On April 2, 2020, was unlawfully at large having left Ontario Corrections custody in error. He was arrested on several charges that day, relating to the harassment of his ex- girlfriend, who is the victim in this matter. He was taken into police custody. He served the remainder of a custodial sentence. Once completed, he was transferred to the Canadian Addiction and Mental Health facility (CAMH). He was incarcerated there and remained in custody on his new 2020 charges. He never applied for a bail hearing. However, he was under a lawful 516(2) Criminal Code order not to contact the victim in this case. This order was issued by the presiding Justice of the Peace at the Ontario Court of Justice (North York) on April 3, 2020.
August 16, 2021 NCR Finding
On February 6, 2021, CAMH staff furnished a "tablet" device with internet connectivity to Mr. Hunt. At 10:20pm, he composed and sent an email message to his victim. He stated that if he did not hear from her, that he was going to hurt himself or someone else. He sent a second email message at 11:03pm in which he implored his victim to get him out of CAMH. Because these emails were so close in timing, police are considering the actions to be one and not two. (CHARGES 1-4)
On February 8, 2021, CAMH staff furnished a "tablet" device with internet connectivity to Mr. Hunt. At 10:29pm, he composed and sent an email message to his victim. He stated that he was going to lose his shit. He asked that she attended CAMH, but to use his mother's name. He stated that he loved her and missed her and was going to take a hostage. (CHARGES 5-8).
The victim responded to neither message. She forwarded the messages to a victim-witness liaison who forwarded the message to some crowns assigned to the case. Police were notified and commenced an investigation.
On February 16, 2021 Mr. Hunt was arrested at CAMH.
Background Information Regarding the Accused:
Mr. Hunt is 50 years old and was born in Toronto. His family moved to Guelph when he was three months old, and he has three younger brothers. His parents were married at the time of his birth but separated when Mr. Hunt was seven years old. He subsequently lived with his mother and has not had any contact with his father since shortly afterwards. His mother confirmed early developmental delays, a diagnosis of a learning disability, and effective treatment with Ritalin during his early school years. Mr. Hunt’s mother died in 2022.
Mr. Hunt began working at age 17, with his most stable employment at a restaurant, where he worked for nine years. He later obtained his forklift licence and worked at various positions, advancing within companies.
Relationship History
- Mr. Hunt has been in several significant intimate relationships, and has cohabited with four partners. His longest relationship was a ten-year marriage, which ended after he was charged with assault causing bodily harm in 2008. Another relationship ended in 2014 following multiple assault charges. His most recent relationship was with the victim of the index offences which began in 2016 and ended in 2018.
Substance Use History
Mr. Hunt first drank alcohol when he was 19 and his drinking became problematic a few years later. At its peak he would drink an average of 8 tall cans of beer a day and frequently suffered from blackouts. His alcohol use resulted in numerous problems with relationships, employment and legal difficulties including a license suspension for driving under the influence. He attended a residential substance abuse treatment facility in 2013 for 90 days and remained abstinent for nine months afterwards.
Mr. Hunt reports that he smoked cannabis while drinking alcohol in the past and became paranoid when using cannabis. He indicated that he did not believe that there was any negative impact from cannabis on his life. He reports that he last used cannabis in 2019.
Legal History:
- Mr. Hunt has a significant criminal history spanning from 2006 to 2020, with multiple convictions including impaired driving (2006, 2012), escape lawful custody (2008), assault causing bodily harm (2008), numerous assaults (2015, 2020), uttering threats (2015, 2020), and repeated breaches of court orders (2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020). Sentences have included fines, probation terms ranging from 6 months to 3 years, and custodial sentences up to 15 months. The full particulars of the circumstances surrounding those convictions are contained in the Hospital Report at pages 10-12.
Psychiatric History
In January, 2012 Mr. Hunt was brought to hospital by EMTs on 2 occasions, the first after taking 19 tablets of sertraline along with eight tall beers and on the second after ingesting five tablets of sertraline along with 12 beers. On both occasions he denied suicidal intent.
In December 2013 Mr. Hunt presented at an emergency department requesting an antidepressant that he indicated he had previously found helpful. He reported having functional issues at work due to low mood, was struggling with loneliness and a recent breakup of a romantic relationship. He also endorsed drinking daily. He became angry when he was not provided with the prescription requested.
In May, 2018, police brought Mr. Hunt to hospital after he had made suicidal threats to his mother while holding two knives in his hands. He also made calls to his fiancée’s workplace threatening to destroy it resulting in his apprehension under the Mental Health Act. At hospital Mr. Hunt denied suicidal intent but became agitated and threatening toward staff and required chemical and physical restraints. Although Mr. Hunt conceded that he may have been consuming six or seven drinks some days of the week he denied thinking his alcohol use was problematic and refused referrals for treatment. Discharge diagnosis was alcohol use disorder.
In June 2019 emergency medical services brought Mr. Hunt to hospital after he messaged a friend on social media threatening suicide. Police were contacted and found him at his home with a 10 inch serrated knife held to his throat. During his assessment Mr. Hunt became aggressive necessitating restraints to manage his behaviour. He was discharged the following day with a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder and “likely cluster B traits”.
Current Diagnosis
- Mr. Hunt’s current diagnoses are delusional disorder and alcohol use disorder-severe, in remission, in a controlled environment.
Evidence of Dr. Ferencz
- Dr. Ferencz indicated that:
- He had been Mr. Hunt’s most responsible physician his arrival at the hospital in May 2025 from Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care until the end of January when Mr. Hunt was transferred to another unit and Dr. Alatishe took over his care. He had reviewed and adopted the contents of the Hospital Report. Over the reporting year Mr. Hunt has been cooperative and committed to his own recovery. Prior to his arrival at the Hospital Mr. Hunt had been found incapable of making treatment decisions, however after his arrival he gradually began to accept that he suffered from a mental illness and the positive impact of medication on his illness resulting in his being found capable to make treatment decisions.
- Mr. Hunt spends much of his time in the community on his own and there have been no issues with respect to appropriate use of his community passes.
- Mr. Hunt has responded well to treatment although he continues to struggle with understanding his experiences and attempts to rationalize them. However, he does not talk much about his delusions and does not display symptoms. His ability to adhere to medication and remain abstinent from alcohol has not yet been seriously tested in the community. In his opinion, Mr. Hunt will likely be ready for discharge into the community during the upcoming reporting year.
- Mr. Hunt’s mother passed away in October 2022 and left her home in Guelph to Mr. Hunt and his two brothers in equal shares. Although probate has not been finalized, Mr. Hunt’s brothers agreed that he would be able to live in the home upon discharge from hospital as they both had their own homes and families. If Mr. Hunt were discharged to reside in Guelph, the Hospital would be able to follow him for a period of time but, as Guelph was outside of the Hospital’s catchment area1, eventually they would have to transfer his supervision to the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care.
- The treatment team had not proposed the imposition of a condition requiring him to report dating or domestic relationships because they were of the view that it was not necessary as they believed that Mr. Hunt would report to the treatment team any relationships with women given the open and positive relationship Mr. Hunt had with the treatment team. He noted that the Hospital did not have a specific program with respect to healthy relationships but that psychologists on staff were available to work with individuals on relationship issues. He noted it would be more effective to do so when Mr. Hunt starts a relationship.
Final Positions of the Parties
Counsel for the Hospital maintained their initial position and did not recommend a term requiring Mr. Hunt to report any relationships with women.
Counsel for the Attorney General maintained her initial position but submitted that a condition requiring Mr. Hunt to report relationships with women was appropriate given the lengthy history of domestic violence.
Counsel for Mr. Hunt also maintained his initial position and submitted that the imposition of a condition requiring reporting any dating or domestic relationships was not necessary and appropriate.
Analysis and Conclusion, Significant Threat:
Although the issue of significant threat was not contested at the hearing, the Board nevertheless makes an independent finding that Mr. Hunt continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. Mr. Hunt suffers from a major mental illness, delusional disorder, as well as alcohol use disorder – severe although in remission in a controlled environment. He has a long history of failing to adhere to recommended psychiatric treatment and refusal to enter into alcohol abuse programming. He has refused to become involved in substance abuse treatment programming because he feels he is currently managing his substance abuse issues well and, if he does not feel that he can control his alcohol cravings on his own, he will then request assistance. Although currently adherent to prescribed medication and abstinent from alcohol use, neither of those risk factors have yet to be tested in a less structured environment. Mr. Hunt also has a long and serious history of domestic violence as well as failing to abide by court orders almost always related to charges of domestic violence.
Mr. Hunt is not involved in any type of programming with respect to healthy relationships, although the Hospital indicates that, should he enter into a domestic relationship, a psychologist would be available to assist him with dealing with the stresses of a relationship.
Taking into account Mr. Hunt’s mental illness, long history of significant domestic violence and failure to abide by court orders as well as his severe alcohol use disorder, his refusal to involve himself in substance abuse programming and his commitment to adherence to medication and abstinence from alcohol has yet to be tested in the community, he clearly meets the test for constituting a significant threat to the safety of the public.
Necessary and appropriate disposition
The Board also finds that the joint submission with respect to disposition is supported by the evidence. However, we also find that the evidence supports a finding that a term of the disposition should require his reporting any dating or domestic relationships to the person in charge or his or her designate.
Although Mr. Hunt is doing well currently, his commitment to medication adherence and abstinence has yet to be tested in the community and given the history of nonadherence and severity of his alcohol use disorder along with a significant history of domestic violence as well as a history of acting out aggressively in hospital, the Hospital clearly needs to closely supervised his access to the community in order to ensure that his risk is managed appropriately and that any early signs of decompensation would be noted and acted upon prior to their reaching a level of a significant threat to the safety of the public as required by the Mental Health Act. Therefore, a conditional discharge would be insufficient to manage risk.
Although the Hospital did not recommend the inclusion of a requirement to report dating or domestic relationships, given the lengthy history of domestic violence, and that he is not currently involved in any form of programming to assist him in developing healthy relationships, it is important that the treatment team be aware of any dating or domestic relationships in order to monitor his reaction to stressors in such relationships and also to arrange for assessment and treatment with a psychologist to assist him in dealing with the stressors and maintaining a healthy relationship.
DATED this 27^th^ day of March 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Robert Bigelow
Alternate Chairperson
____________________________
Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board