Ontario Review Board
Re: Reginald Billing
ORB File No.: 4916/4936
Hearing held on: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Place of Hearing: Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before: Alternate Chairperson: Mr. R. Bigelow Members: Dr. P. Darby Dr. K. Patel Ms. C. Murray Ms. D. Smith
Parties Appearing: Accused: Reginald Billing Counsel: Mr. T. McIver The Person in Charge Representative: Ms. T. Murdock Attorney-General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. S. Curry
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION (Dated February 2, 2026)
Introduction
On October 3, 2007, Reginald Billing was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on four charges of criminal harassment, two charges of failing to comply with condition of undertaking or recognizance, two charges of failing to comply with a probation order and one charge of attempting to obstruct justice, all contrary to the Criminal Code. On November 8, 2007, he was further found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on a charge of assault contrary the Criminal Code. He is currently subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board (“the Board”) dated February 13, 2025, ordering that he be discharged subject to conditions including residence, reporting, providing urine and/or breath samples, and refraining from contact with certain individuals.
On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the Board convened a hearing to review Mr. Billing’s disposition pursuant to section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code. The issues to be determined at the hearing were whether Mr. Billing continued to constitute a significant threat to the safety of the public as defined in section 672.5401 of the Criminal Code and, if so, to determine 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. Ms. Murdock on behalf of the Hospital indicated that it was the Hospital’s position that Mr. Billing no longer represented a significant threat to the safety of the public and accordingly was entitled to be discharged absolutely. Ms. Curry, on behalf of the Attorney General, supported the Hospital’s position and Mr. McIver, counsel for Mr. Billing, also joined the Hospital in recommending an absolute discharge.
Evidence at the Hearing
- The evidence at the hearing consisted of the Hospital Report1 dated December 15, 2025, and the oral evidence of Dr. Ismail, Mr. Billing’s most responsible physician.
Findings:
- For the Reasons that follow, the Board finds that Mr. Billing no longer represents a significant threat to the safety of the public and accordingly is entitled to be discharged absolutely.
Index Offences:
- The circumstances surrounding the index offences as summarized in last year’s reasons for disposition are as follows:
October 2006 Index Offences
In 2006, Mr. Billing was involuntarily hospitalized for around two weeks and refused medication. Shortly after his release from the hospital, Mr. Billing was charged and ultimately convicted of criminal harassment of his ex-wife and daughter. He received a suspended sentence and probation for 18 months which included a condition that he not have any communication directly or indirectly with his ex-wife and daughter. On February 16, 2007, Mr. Billing again was charged with criminal harassment (x3) involving the same victims. He was subsequently released on a recognizance with conditions including that he abstain from contacting his ex-wife and daughter and that he attend the Mental Health Office at the Finch Avenue courthouse. Mr. Billing failed to comply with both of those conditions. He continued to call his ex-wife.
December 2006 Index Offence
On December 18, 2006 the victim was in the washroom in The Bay in downtown Toronto. Suddenly, without warning or provocation, Mr. Billing kicked the bathroom stall door open and struck the victim on the head. He then entered into the stall and struck the victim again in the head with his fist, knocking the victim to the floor. Mr. Billing then spat on the victim’s neck.
Background Information Regarding the Accused:
As of the date of the hearing, Mr. Billing was 68 years of age and is the middle child in a sibline of three. There is no significant information in the Hospital report with respect to his formative years. He married in 1982 and divorced in 1987. His ex-wife reports that she experienced physical and emotional abuse during the marriage and that his mental illness was apparent.
Mr. Billing receives CPP which indicates that he has had a period of employment but no information with respect to the nature of that employment is available.
Substance Use History
- Mr. Billing has a history of alcohol abuse and has experimented with other drugs such as marijuana and LSD. Prior to the index offences, Mr. Billing had never abstained from alcohol for more than a few months in his adult life. However, he now reports that he has been abstinent from alcohol for 17 years.
Legal History:
- Mr. Billing has the following criminal record:
Date and Place
Charge
Disposition
1977-01-24 Palmerston, ON
BE & theft
Poss. Of stolen property over $200
9 mos def & 3 mos indef.
6 mos conc.
1977-08-03
paroled
1978-11-09 Owen Sound, ON
Theft under $200
$150 I-D 10 days and prob. 15 mos.
1979-05-28 Guelph, ON
BE & Theft
Breach of Prob.
6 mos
3 mos consec.
Breach of Prob.
3 mos conc.
1979-11-05
Paroled
1980-06-16 Toronto
Poss of a narcotic
$50 I-D 10 days
1980-06-09 Toronto, ON
Theft under $200
1Day
1980-10-14 Toronto, ON
Mischief to private property
Poss of stolen property under $200
30 days
10 days consec.
1982-04-07 Toronto, ON
Theft under $200
14 Days
1982-09-30 Toronto, ON
- Theft under $200
- Common Assault
(1-2) 60 Days on each charge.
1992-10-26
Assault
Susp. Sentence & probation 18 mos.
2006-12-06
Criminal Harassment
Susp. Sentence & probation 18 mos.
Psychiatric History
- Mr. Billing has approximately a 20-year history of mental illness and has generally been followed as an outpatient. He had only a few inpatient hospitalizations prior to the index offences, the first being in August 2003 when he presented at hospital with complaints of increasing paranoia and anxiety. His current diagnoses are Schizophrenia, Substance Use (in Remission) and Mild Neurocognitive Disorder, amnestic type.
Evidence of Dr. Ismail
- Dr. Ismail indicated that:
- He was Mr. Billing’s most responsible physician and had read and adopted the contents of the Hospital report. Mr. Billing had a “wonderful year” and had adapted well to a change of residence. Mr. Billing “liked” taking his medication and knows if he stops taking medication, he will experience mental decompensation. He has some breakthrough symptoms of mental illness which he handled well with the assistance community supports.
- Mr. Billing has strong support system including his church, CMHA, and the Forensic Mobile Treatment Support Team (“MTST”) which would transition to the non-forensic MTST should he be granted absolute discharge.
- Mr. Billing’s neurocognitive disorder has been stable over the last several years. His current residence can be permanent and will be able to continue to support him should there be a decline in his cognitive abilities.
- Mr. Billing does not meet the criteria for a Community Treatment Order, but should there be mental health deterioration the ‘Box B’ criteria under the Mental Health Act would be available to bring him into hospital.
- He agreed with the statement in the Hospital Report that Mr. Billing does not reside in the same community as his ex-wife and daughter and that he would not be able to contact them even as he wanted to.
- Should Mr. Billing be discharged absolutely, there would be essentially no change in his support systems.
Analysis and Conclusion, Significant Threat:
- The Board finds that the evidence supports the joint submission of the parties that Mr. Billing no longer represents a significant threat to the safety of the public. He Board accepts and adopts the comments made at pages 59 – 60 on the Hospital Report where it states:
Mr. Billing does not exhibit current or recent violent ideation, intent, or behavior. There is no evidence of thoughts of harming others, hostile attribution bias, or pleasure derived from harm. His historical index behaviors have not recurred, and there have been no incidents of aggression, threats, or boundary violations that rise to a level of concern. His residual paranoia is low-grade, non-persecutory, and managed effectively through coping strategies such as prayer, reassurance from trusted supports, and engagement with his treatment team. These symptoms do not interfere with his reality testing, do not drive behavior, and have not escalated over time.
In terms of symptoms of major mental disorder, Mr. Billing’s psychotic symptoms are residual and stable. He continues to experience baseline paranoia, which is neither organized nor acted upon, and is not associated with command hallucinations, delusional behaviors, agitation, or disorganization. His affective presentation is calm, with no evidence of mood instability, suicidality, or emotional dysregulation. Cognitive concerns related to a diagnosis of Mild Neurocognitive Disorder have remained stable over the past two years, with noted improvement following a reduction in medication burden. He has demonstrated the ability to adapt to a new living environment, maintain routines, and independently manage basic activities of daily living.
Mr. Billing shows no indicators of affective, behavioral, or cognitive instability that would elevate risk. He is not impulsive, aggressive, or emotionally volatile. His interpersonal style is overly social at times, and he can be somewhat intrusive; however, these behaviors are benign, easily redirected, and have not resulted in distress, conflict, or harm to others. They are not criminal in nature and do not indicate a trajectory toward violence.
Response to treatment and supervision has been consistently positive. Mr. Billing is fully compliant with medication, attends appointments, engages with his forensic outpatient team, and benefits from structured community supports. There is no evidence of disengagement, noncompliance, or treatment resistance. He has not used alcohol or illicit substances, with repeated negative toxicology screens, and he expresses strong motivation to maintain sobriety based on insight into past addiction and gratitude for his current stability.
Protective factors are robust and enduring. Mr. Billing resides in a supportive and age-appropriate living environment that he values and where his needs are well monitored. He benefits from regular professional support, strong faith-based community involvement, meaningful social relationships, and consistent routines. He derives purpose from helping others, maintains healthy hobbies, and expresses contentment with his life circumstances. He has complied with all disposition conditions, including restrictions related to his ex-wife and daughter, and there is no evidence of preoccupation or intent to breach these boundaries.
Taken together, Mr. Billing’s stable clinical course, absence of violent ideation or behavior, effective coping with residual symptoms, excellent treatment adherence, and strong protective supports indicate that he no longer meets the threshold for a significant threat to public safety. Any residual risk is low, static, and well mitigated by his environment, supervision, and demonstrated help-seeking behavior.
- Mr. Billing no longer meets the onerous threshold for a finding of significant threat to the safety of the public as defined in the Criminal Code and case law and therefore is entitled to be discharged absolutely.
DATED this 2nd day of February 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
R. Bigelow Alternate Chairperson
Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board