Re: Yousif Salim
ORB File No: 7946
Hearing held on: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
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: Ms. C. Finley
Members: Dr. P. Prendergast Dr. S. Wiseman Mr. A. Mete
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Yousif Salim Counsel: Mr. A. Paas
The Person in charge of Hospital: Counsel: Mr. K. Dow
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. N. MacDonald
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated: April 8, 2026)
Introduction
[1]. On September 7, 2021, Yousif Salim was found not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder (NCR) on a charge of assault, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. He is currently subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board (ORB/the Board) dated November 27, 2024, detaining him at the Forensic Program at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Services (OSCMHS/the hospital), with discretionary privileges up to and including the ability to reside in the community in approved accommodations.
[2]. On March 4, 2026, the Board convened a hearing to conduct the annual review of Mr. Salim’s disposition pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Salim was present and represented by his counsel, Mr. Paas. Mr. Salim also had the assistance of an Arabic interpreter.
[3]. By way of letter dated December 30, 2025, the hospital notified Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care (Southwest) that, pursuant to Rule 13, it would be requesting that Mr. Salim be transferred to Southwest’s outpatient service.
[4]. At the outset of the proceedings, the parties were canvassed as to their positions on the issues to be determined by the Board: whether Mr. Salim remains a significant threat to the safety of the public, and if so, the necessary and appropriate disposition having regard to the criteria in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code. Further, whether a transfer to Southwest was appropriate in the circumstances.
[5]. Mr. Dow, on behalf of the hospital, submitted that Mr. Salim remains a significant threat to the safety of the public and the necessary and appropriate disposition is a continuation of the current detention order with sections 2 (e), (f), and 9 (g) amended to allow for passes within the Province of Ontario (as opposed to within 150 kilometres). Further, the hospital submitted that Mr. Salim’s care should be transferred to Southwest in order for Mr. Salim to be closer to family members. Ms. MacDonald, on behalf of the Ministry of the Attorney General, and Mr. Paas concurred in the hospital’s positions. Mr. Paas specifically conceded the issue of significant threat. Thus, a joint position was put before the panel.
Findings
[6]. For the reasons that follow, the panel found that Mr. Salim remains a significant threat to the safety of the public and the necessary and appropriate disposition is a continuation of the current detention order with the changes to the travel passes as recommended by the parties. The panel further orders that Mr. Salim’s care be transferred to Southwest.
The Evidence
[7]. The evidence at the hearing consisted of the Hospital Report dated December 30, 2025 (ex. 1), the Rule 13 letter from Ontario Shores to Southwest (ex. 2), the response from Southwest (ex. 3), and the viva voce evidence of Dr. Pallandi, Mr. Salim’s treating psychiatrist.
The Index Offence
[8]. At the time of the index offence, Mr. Salim was residing with his elderly parents in an apartment on Kipling Avenue in Toronto. The following summary is extracted from the Hospital Report, at pp.2-3:
On September 1, 2019, the victim and his wife were in their bedroom, when Mr. Salim entered “in a state of agitation, anger and upset”. He was repeatedly yelling “leave me”. He moved to look out the bedroom window. The victim got up and stood by the bed near the doorway and told Mr. Salim to calm down. It became apparent to both his parents that he wanted to exit their bedroom and make his way to the balcony, which was accessible from the living room. As he went past, Mr. Salim pushed his father on his torso with both of his hands, causing his father to sit down on the bed. He said “get out of my way” as he applied the force to his father. His mother confronted him about what he had done and he told her that he had applied the force in order to get his father out of his way. The victim sustained no physical injuries.
[9]. Following the confrontation with his father, Mr. Salim went out on the balcony and threw two chairs and a small barbecue over the railing, causing them to fall 23 floors to the ground. His mother contacted her other son, who immediately attended the apartment and removed his parents. Police were called and Mr. Salim was arrested. When asked what happened on that day, Mr. Salim stated that evil spirits were in control of his body.
Background Information
[10]. The Hospital Report contains information relating to Mr. Salim’s background and psychiatric history and need not be reviewed in detail in these reasons beyond the following material points.
[11]. Mr. Salim is a 39-year-old man who was born in Iraq and came to Canada at the age of 26 with his parents and two brothers. He stopped school in Grade 6 and has not been meaningfully employed since his arrival in Canada. Until the index offence, Mr. Salim has always resided with his parents.
[12]. Mr. Salim has no criminal record. However, he has been subject to an apprehension under the Mental Health Act following an assault on his father in 2019.
[13]. Mr. Salim’s first hospital admission was in December 2014. He was brought to Etobicoke General Hospital by police after he was apprehended under the Mental Health Act. He reported that had not eaten for three or four days and was experiencing auditory hallucinations. In the emergency room, he was quite agitated and he required restraints.
[14]. Over the following five years, Mr. Salim had four more psychiatric admissions at the Etobicoke General Hospital. He consistently reported auditory and visual hallucinations that included command hallucinations to kill his mother, as well as other angry and threatening behaviour directed at his family. After being discharged from hospital, Mr. Salim would return to reside with his parents. He was not consistently adherent to treatment. At the time of the index offence, he had not received his long-acting antipsychotic medication for over a year.
[15]. A month before the index offence, Mr. Salim was admitted to hospital following physical assaults on both his mother and father. Both of his parents were afraid of his aggressive behaviour and refused to take him back home.
[16]. Following his arrest on the index offence, Mr. Salim was found unfit to stand trial. He endorsed vague paranoid delusions regarding his parents. His thoughts processes were vague and disorganized. Mr. Salim was treated with olanzapine and his mental status improved significantly. He was found fit to stand trial.
[17]. In November 2020, Mr. Salim was assessed to be incapable of consenting to antipsychotic treatment. His brother, Samir, became his substitute decision maker (SDM).
Course Since the Last Disposition
[18]. Mr. Salim’s current diagnoses are schizophrenia and Intellectual Disability. He continues to be incapable of consenting to his psychiatric treatment.
[19]. Mr. Salim receives financial support from the Ontario Disability Support Program. Since April 2024, Mr. Salim has qualified for Development Services Ontario (DSO) Passport funding. This past year, he also has been deemed eligible for further DSO support, including housing.
[20]. Mr. Salim remained an inpatient of the Forensic Psychiatric Rehabilitation Unit until his discharge to the community on January 6, 2025. He currently resides at McKay House, a supported residence operated by Durham Mental Health Services. It is a 24-hour supervised transitional group home that includes the provision of meals and medication supervision by staff. Mr. Salim has managed the transition well. He gets along with the staff and co-residents. He has been compliant with treatment. Substance use has not been an issue.
[21]. Although Mr. Salim’s ability to converse in English has improved, it remains limited. This continues to present as a barrier to Mr. Salim’s ability to participate in recommended programming. It also presents a barrier to Mr. Salim being able to gain a fulsome appreciation of his symptoms and to describe them to his treatment team. There is a concern that Mr. Salim may not disclose were he to experience symptoms, which may increase the risk of unexpected and potentially violent behaviour.
[22]. Mr. Salim demonstrates a limited level of insight into his mental illness and the need for ongoing treatment. He does not agree that he has a mental illness. He does not believe that discontinuing medication would result in any negative consequences. However, as noted above, he has remained adherent to treatment, including receiving oral medication. Mr. Salim’s intellectual disability has resulted in a lack of interest in social relationships outside of his immediate family. His disability also impacts on his ability to develop further insight.
[23]. Mr. Salim’s treatment team has been discussing Mr. Salim’s possible transfer to Southwest and potential housing options within Southwest’s jurisdiction. With that in mind, the team has started making referrals to supported group housing in the Windsor area.
[24]. Dr. Pallandi testified before the panel. He has been Mr. Salim’s attending psychiatrist since his discharge to the community in January 2025. Dr. Pallandi reported that Mr. Salim has had an excellent year.
[25]. Dr. Pallandi indicated that the team is supporting Mr. Salim’s request to transition to a residence closer to his family. Although such a change will be disruptive and stressful, it is anticipated that the move will be a positive step for Mr. Salim. It will afford Mr. Salim more opportunities to engage with people that he likes and who share the same language and background. The doctor was not able to indicate a timeline, beyond indicating that it is anticipated to be several months. The team is committed to facilitating the transfer as soon as possible. In Dr. Pallandi’s opinion, a detention order is necessary in order to ensure that Mr. Salim’s transition to a new residence and a new treatment team goes well.
[26]. Dr. Pallandi testified that Mr. Salim’s family has expressed that, at least initially, they would like Mr. Salim to reside in supportive housing, rather than returning to the family home. Any future transition from a supervised residence would be subject to discussions between Mr. Salim, his family and the treatment team.
[27]. At the conclusion of the evidence, all parties maintained their initial positions.
Analysis and Conclusion
[28]. The panel carefully considered the Hospital Report and the evidence of Dr. Pallandi and independently found that Mr. Salim remains a significant threat to the safety of the public. Mr. Salim’s index offence was in the context of acute symptoms of his schizophrenia. He believed that evil spirits were in control of his body and that his parents were imposters. His behaviour was in keeping with a pattern of violence directed towards his parents. Mr. Salim’s history of noncompliance with medication raises a concern that he may stop his oral medication, which would result in a deterioration in his mental status and an exacerbation of his psychotic symptoms. As such, he remains a significant threat to the safety of the public.
[29]. Having found that Mr. Salim represents a significant threat to the safety of the public, the panel must consider the necessary and appropriate disposition having regard to the criteria found in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
[30]. The panel accepts Dr Pallandi’s expert opinion that, while in the long term a move to a residence closer to his family will be a positive development for Mr. Salim, such a move will be stressful and potentially disruptive. A new residence and establishment of a new therapeutic relationship with a new forensic outpatient team has the potential to be destabilizing. This may result in Mr. Salim experiencing an increase in psychotic symptoms, including the belief that he is possessed by evil souls and that others in his vicinity are imposters.
[31]. The panel finds that a detention order is the necessary and appropriate disposition keeping in mind the safety of the public and the specific needs of Mr. Salim. The hospital continues to require the ability to approve Mr. Salim’s accommodation in order to ensure that he receives the support and supervision that he requires.
[32]. The panel agrees that a transfer of Mr. Salim’s care to Southwest is necessary and appropriate in the circumstances. Mr. Salim will be closer to his family who are a good source of support for him. Further, he will have the ability to engage in activities with people who share his language and culture. The panel notes that Southwest has indicated its support for the transfer and has actively engaged in discussions with his current treatment team. The transfer will follow once Mr. Salim has moved to a supportive residence in the Windsor area. The expansion of his passes will facilitate any transition to a new residence.
[33]. The hospital requires a detention order to adequately manage any evolving risk associated with Mr. Salim’s transition to a new residence. He will require support and close monitoring. This is particularly crucial given Mr. Salim’s language barriers and his intellectual disability. Both may impair his ability to recognize and/or communicate any symptoms of psychosis that he may experience.
[34]. In conclusion, the panel finds that Mr. Salim the necessary and appropriate disposition is a continuation of the current detention order with the changes to the travel passes as recommended by the parties. The panel further orders that Mr. Salim’s care be transferred to Southwest.
[35]. In arriving at our conclusion, the panel has considered the paramount factor of the safety of the public, Mr. Salim’s mental condition, his community reintegration, and his other needs, all as required by s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
DATED this 8th day of April 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Ms. C. Finley Alternate Chairperson
Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board