Ontario Review Board
Re: Andre Shugt
ORB File No: 8496
Hearing held on: Friday, April 24, 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: Mr. P. Capelle Members: Dr. M. Attia Dr. S. Wiseman Ms. M. den Haan Mr. T. Wall
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Andre Shugt Counsel: Ms. J. Boissonneault
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. J. Szabo
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. N. MacDonald
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated May 29, 2026)
Introduction
On February 13, 2024, Andre Shugt was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on charges of aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (the "Criminal Code"). Mr. Shugt is currently subject to a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board (the "Board") dated April 30, 2025, detaining him at the Forensic Program of Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (“Ontario Shores” or “the Hospital”s), with privileges up to and including passes for up to 12 hours to enter the community, within a 150-kilometre radius of Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, indirectly supervised.
On April 24, 2026, a panel of the Ontario Review Board (the "ORB" or the "Board") convened a hearing pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada. Mr. Shugt was in attendance and was represented by his counsel, Ms. Boissonneault.
Without Prejudice Position of the Parties
Ms. Szabo, on behalf of the hospital, advised that no changes to the current Disposition were recommended but for the addition of “passes for up to seven days to travel within Ontario or Quebec with an Approved person and an itinerary approved by the person in charge”. That recommendation was supported both by Ms. MacDonald, on behalf of the Attorney General, and Ms. Boissonneault, on behalf of Mr. Shugt.
Background and Index Offences
Mr. Shugt is 38 years of age. He reports that his substance use began in childhood, when he misused a steroid inhaler to get high. During high school and university, he tried cannabis, alcohol, MDMA, cocaine, mushrooms, and LSD, though he said he did not use any of these regularly. In later years, he developed a habit of heavy caffeine use. He also experienced episodes of paranoia and delusional thinking. At the time, he believed these feelings were caused by family members or foreign governments secretly drugging him. He now understands that these experiences were likely early signs of psychosis.
Mr. Shugt completed a degree in film production. At some point, he spent about a year living on a farm in the United States that was connected to a Buddhist cult. Over the years, he worked a series of short-term jobs and at one point considered joining the military, though that did not happen. In 2019, he went through a period of homelessness and lived out of his car.
The Hospital Report describes several contacts Mr. Shugt had with police between 2016 and 2020. He was involved in two car accidents during this period — one where another driver hit him from behind, and one where he drifted off the highway and hit a tree. Police also stopped him on three separate occasions: once for an expired vehicle sticker, and twice for speeding.
In late 2019, his father reported him missing after he left home without warning. Mr. Shugt later called police himself to explain that he had been on a trip with friends.
On November 25, 2020, Mr. Shugt voluntarily handed over a rifle to police to be destroyed, saying he was following new government firearm regulations.
On June 4, 2021, police found Mr. Shugt on a boat he did not own. He was drinking beer and behaving aggressively. He was charged with theft and mischief under $5,000. Later that same day, police were called to a family home after reports that Mr. Shugt had a firearm. Neighbours and family members expressed concern about his mental health. When police arrived, he was taken into custody. He made unusual statements, including references to "the hangman" and comments suggesting he enjoyed the police attention. He was then taken to hospital and admitted under the Mental Health Act.
According to the Hospital Report, Mr. Shugt has a documented mental health history leading up to the index offence. He was hospitalized several times between June 2021 and October 2022.
His first apprehension pursuant to the Mental Health Act occurred in June 2021, following a standoff with police in which he barricaded himself inside his home with several firearms. At that time, he was diagnosed with Psychosis Not Otherwise Specified.
In early 2022, he sought help for side effects from his medication and later reported feeling depressed, which he connected to stress within his family. He was diagnosed with a major depressive disorder.
By October 2022, his symptoms had worsened. He was experiencing increased paranoia and thoughts of suicide. His diagnosis was updated to an Unspecified Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder and he was started on antipsychotic medication.
The circumstances of the index offences are taken from last year’s Reasons for Disposition as follows:
“On October 11, 2023, police responded to a stabbing incident at 2 Millstone Crescent, Whitby, following a 911 call from Marlene Kirby-Shugt, reporting that her husband, Mr. Claudio Shugt, had been stabbed. Upon arrival, police found Claudio Shugt with multiple stab wounds to his arm and thigh, two of which were serious and bleeding heavily. Another individual, Andre Shugt, was located in the home with a stab wound above his right knee.
Claudio Shugt reported that he had been stabbed while sleeping but did not see the assailant due to the darkness. Police recovered two knives from the scene – one clean and found in the bathroom, and another in the bed where the assault occurred. Only Claudio, Marlene, and their son, Andre, were in the home at the time.
Claudio Shugt required approximately 20 stitches. Andre Shugt was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. After receiving medical treatment for his own injury, Mr. (Andre) Shugt admitted in the recorded police statement that he had retrieved a kitchen knife and stabbed his father while he slept.”
Current Diagnoses
Unspecified Schizophrenia Spectrum and other Psychotic Disorder
Rule out Autism Spectrum Disorder
Evidence at Hearing
Dr. Wong advised that there were no updates to the Hospital Report. The plan for the coming clinical year is to continue Mr. Shugt’s rehabilitation. In the event community living is granted a housing assessment as well as a safety assessment will be initiated to assist with determining suitable housing options. Consideration will be given to whether it is appropriate for Mr. Shugt to live with his family keeping in mind that his father was the victim of the index offences. The request for 72 hour indirectly supervised passes is to enable Mr. Shugt to travel with his family if the hospital determines that it is appropriate.
Mr. Shugt has had a good year. Since being switched to paliperidone in April of 2025, problematic behaviours have ended and his psychotic symptoms are considered to be in remission. Mr. Shugt has now been transitioned to injectable paliperidone and tolerated this transition well.
To continue to progress, Mr. Shugt will need to be proactive in his use of passes and engagement with programming. Mr. Shugt’s father is now an Approved person and his mother has applied for that same status. Mr. Shugt continues to maintain regular contact with his sister.
Responding to questions from Ms. MacDonald, Dr. Wong agreed that Schizophrenia is a more accurate and sustained diagnosis that goes back several years.
Responding to questions from Ms. Boissonneault, Dr. Wong agreed that Mr. Shugt is now treatment capable and that the decision to transition from oral to injectable paliperidone was his. Dr. Wong reiterated that Mr. Shugt’s psychosis is now in remission.
The doctor was referred to pages 35 and 36 of the Hospital Report which outline the programming that Mr. Shugt has engaged in. Dr. Wong agreed that the feedback is that Mr. Shugt is an active and meaningful participant and that his attendance is reliable.
Dr. Wong was referred to page 38 of the Hospital Report and agreed with the following excerpt:
“There was no evidence of recent problems with Violent Ideation or Intent, Instability, or Treatment or Supervision Response,” Mr. Shugt has had an excellent reporting period marked by stability and limited indications of stress, including through a transition to a minimum secure unit.”
Questioned by a panelist, Dr. Wong agreed that confirmation of this patient’s Schizophrenia diagnosis has had little impact on the treatment plan. Day-to-day, Mr. Shugt’s rehabilitation and desire to gain employment will be addressed, however, these do not relate to risk.
Another panel member inquired if it was unusual for a victim to be designated an Approved person. Dr. Wong responded that this was not uncommon. He added that Mr. Shugt’s family have been engaged from the very beginning and emphasized the importance of keeping that relationship intact.
Dr. Wong opined that Mr. Shugt’s prognosis is good. He has now been stable on antipsychotic medications for almost a year without breakthrough symptoms.
To date Mr. Shugt has not had any overnight visits with his parents. Dr. Wong opined that this is a possibility in the next month or two.
Closing Observations
Ms. Szabo submitted that Mr. Shugt has done a 180-degree turn on the new medication and is doing very well.
Ms. MacDonald noted that this past clinical year was much different from previous years. Mr. Shugt’s father, the victim of the index offence, becoming an Approved person reflects that he feels safe around his son and is engaged in his son’s societal reintegration.
Ms. Boissonneault noted that Mr. Shugt has done all that is asked of him and has a number of strong protective factors in place. These include taking medications by injection, working hard in groups, as well as strong support from his parents and sister, who are working with the treatment team.
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 conduct that is both serious and criminal in nature.
In determining whether Mr. Shugt continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public the Board 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. Shugt 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 evidence of Dr. Wong that Mr. Shugt continues to pose a significant threat. The Board also relies on the Hospital Report and the Risk Assessment contained therein as well as the viva voce evidence of Dr. Wong in determining that Mr. Shugt suffers from Schizophrenia; a major mental illness. Mr. Shugt’s ongoing risk to public safety is set out at page 26 of the Hospital Report and reproduced below for ease of reference:
Although Mr. Shugt’s mental status remained stable over the past year, at his baseline he continued to evidence significant ongoing residual psychosis and substantial cognitive deficits.
Responding to internal stimuli including command hallucinations to harm others, though did not follow through with same (e.g., “they’re telling me to cut people’s feet off”, instructing him to approach young boys, etc.)
He remained consistently paranoid (e.g., “somebody is trying to kill me”, believing others were entering his room at night and assaulting him, etc.)
Substantial thought form disorganization and executive dysfunction.
The Board therefore accepts that absent an ORB Disposition, Mr. Shugt would likely become non-compliant with prescribed medications which would lead to decompensation, the use of substances and the re-emergence of behaviours similar to those seen at the time of the index offences. We are satisfied that absent an ORB Disposition, it is likely that Mr. Shugt will cause serious physical or psychological harm to members of the public and such conduct will likely be criminal in nature.
(b) Disposition
Flowing from the Board’s finding that Mr. Shugt 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. Shugt’s needs pursuant to s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
The necessary and appropriate disposition for Mr. Shugt provides him as much freedom as possible without subjecting the community to a real risk of dangerous behaviour.
In considering Mr. Shugt’s needs, the Board notes the overall positive tone of Dr. Wong’s testimony subsequent to the introduction of paliperidone in April of 2025. Mr. Shugt is once again capable to consent to treatment and agreed to transition from oral to injectable paliperidone.
At the time of this hearing, Mr. Shugt’s psychotic symptoms have ceased and he is now considered to be in remission. As a result, he was transferred from a secure forensic unit to a general forensic unit in October of 2025. Nonetheless, Dr. Wong has yet to grant Mr. Shugt an overnight pass with his parents. This cautionary approach is tied to Mr. Shugt’s father being the victim of the index offence. Dr. Wong offered that an overnight pass is a possibility in the month or two after this hearing.
Consistent with Dr. Wong’s testimony the Hospital Report speaks to Mr. Shugt’s ongoing and meaningful involvement in programming. This panel of the Board would agree with Mr. Boisssonneault’s closing observation that Mr. Shugt has done all that is asked of him and benefits from strong and collaborative family support.
Conclusion
Therefore, the Board unanimously determines that the necessary and appropriate Disposition required to manage the threat Mr. Shugt poses to the safety of the public while still meeting his needs, remains a Detention Disposition with the addition of the two provisions identified above.
In making this Disposition, the Board carefully considered the positions and submissions of the parties and the evidence of Dr. Wong 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. Shugt’s mental condition, his reintegration into society and other needs.
DATED this 29th day of May 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Mr. P. Capelle Alternate Chairperson Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board