ISSN: 2710-4028 DOI: doi.org/10.54208/1000/0006 67
encountered in those who employ pseudolaw. A few
longer-term CERI affiliates are known, such as “minister
Catherine Flamond” (Paraclete, 2013), but these few
individuals are the exception.
Belanger is probably Canada’s longest continuously
active pseudolaw guru, with pseudolaw activities going
back around 25 years. Belanger’s only apparent rival
is Detaxer David Kevin Lindsay. Lindsay began his
pseudolaw activities in the mid 1990s (Netolitzky, 2016,
p. 620), but throughout the 2010s Lindsay focused on
an entirely conventional debt collection matter where
Lindsay was represented by a lawyer (LindsayvAmbrosi,
2019 BCSC 358 Lindsay v Ambrosi, 2019 BCCA 442).
Lindsay has since resurrected his pseudolaw projects
during the COVID-19 pandemic (Netolitzky, 2023a,
pp. 815-817).
While Belanger currently presents himself as a King
James Bible literalist, he initially instead self-identified
as a member of the “Church of the Universe,” and the
“Edmonton Grove of the Church of Reformed Druids”
[EGCRD]. These two affiliations are interesting. The
Church of the Universe11 is an Ontario “pot church”
operated by “Reverend Brothers” Walter Tucker and
Michael Baldasaro, two long-time marijuana promoters
and traffickers (R v Baldasaro, 2009 ONCA 676).
Founded in 1969, the Church of the Universe’s central,
and only, dogma is that marijuana use is a religious
sacrament (Tucker v Canada, 2003 FC 1008, paras. 18-
22). Marijuana is the “Tree of Life.” From at least 1982
onward, Tucker and Baldasaro frequently litigated
in Federal Courts, Ontario Courts, and the Supreme
Court of Canada, arguing the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms permitted unrestricted marijuana
production, distribution, and use. Federal Courts’
docket records include 28 actions and appeals from
1985-2004. Supreme Court of Canada proceedings
include 12 Baldasaro and 14 Tucker unsuccessful
leave applications, the earliest of which solely involved
“Michael Baldasaro, Baron of Hamilton” (Baldasaro
v Ontario (12 March 1982), Ottawa 17400 (SCC)).
Church of the Universe litigation does not involve
pseudolaw concepts, though at one point Tucker and
Baldasaro attempted to involve the United Nations, but
via conventional means (MAB v Canada, 1993). The
Church of the Universe website listed Belanger as an
affiliate (see also “Minister Donald,” n.d.).
11 Archived website: https://web.archive.org/web/20221017225038/
http://www.iamm.com/.
Belanger’s other pre-CERI association, the EGCRD, is
less well documented. In the 1980s through to 2000s,
this group unsuccessfully sought religious tax-exempt
status (O’Halloran, 2014, p. 343), and operated illegal
drug and alcohol-related businesses, purporting these
were religious activities (Brooymans, 2001 Powell,
1998 R v Fehr, 2004 ABQB 859). The EGCRD made
flamboyant religious claims. For example, in 1994, an
after-hours bar, identified as a “Druid church,” was
raided and shut down by the Edmonton Police Service
(Farrell, 1994). The “Druids” supposed religious
activity was consuming “Druid fluid” (beer, rye, vodka)
and communing via telepathic prayer.
Belanger self-reports he became a “Head Druid” of the
Onoway Grove in 1993, and founded the Cariboo Grove
in 2003 (“Minister Donald,” n.d.). EGCRD “Grand
Druid” Kevin Sisk granted Belanger both a “Philosophy
Degree ...Ph.d Doctorate of Theosophy and Theocratic
law” and a “Master of law degree.” Interestingly, in a
2021 video, Belanger recounts his Druidical activities,
and explains that he and his peers from 1986 onward
used the very same Criminal Code based arguments
later employed by CERI (Paraclete, 2021a). Belanger
is explicit: the EGCRD was a mechanism to exploit
purported religious status for personal profit.
Belanger’s pseudolaw guru activities began in 2001. He
appeared in Alberta and Manitoba courts, claimed he
represented persons accused of criminal drug offenses,
and denounced the judges as traitors (Brooymans,
2001 Damuzi, 2001 “Faith In,” 2002 R v Friesen (6
December 2002), Winnipeg CR02-01-23494 (Man
QB)). Unsurprisingly, despite Belanger’s claims of
religious authority, the accused were convicted.
Belanger next attempted to intrude into a county
development decision, where he deployed pseudolaw
oath of office arguments (KiliniCreek/PatriciaHillsArea
Landowners v Lac Ste. Anne (County of) Subdivision
and Development Appeal Board, 2001 ABCA 92 Kilini
Creek Area Landowners v Lac Ste. Anne (County of),
2001 ABCA 117). At this point Belanger self-identified
both as a “Minister of the Church of Reformed Druids”
(Damuzi, 2001), and a “Minister” of CERI (“Letter to a
top Mason,” 2009).
CERI’s first known involvement in a court proceeding
occurred in 2002, when the Canada Trustco Mortgage
Company sought to foreclose Belanger’s Onoway-area
encountered in those who employ pseudolaw. A few
longer-term CERI affiliates are known, such as “minister
Catherine Flamond” (Paraclete, 2013), but these few
individuals are the exception.
Belanger is probably Canada’s longest continuously
active pseudolaw guru, with pseudolaw activities going
back around 25 years. Belanger’s only apparent rival
is Detaxer David Kevin Lindsay. Lindsay began his
pseudolaw activities in the mid 1990s (Netolitzky, 2016,
p. 620), but throughout the 2010s Lindsay focused on
an entirely conventional debt collection matter where
Lindsay was represented by a lawyer (LindsayvAmbrosi,
2019 BCSC 358 Lindsay v Ambrosi, 2019 BCCA 442).
Lindsay has since resurrected his pseudolaw projects
during the COVID-19 pandemic (Netolitzky, 2023a,
pp. 815-817).
While Belanger currently presents himself as a King
James Bible literalist, he initially instead self-identified
as a member of the “Church of the Universe,” and the
“Edmonton Grove of the Church of Reformed Druids”
[EGCRD]. These two affiliations are interesting. The
Church of the Universe11 is an Ontario “pot church”
operated by “Reverend Brothers” Walter Tucker and
Michael Baldasaro, two long-time marijuana promoters
and traffickers (R v Baldasaro, 2009 ONCA 676).
Founded in 1969, the Church of the Universe’s central,
and only, dogma is that marijuana use is a religious
sacrament (Tucker v Canada, 2003 FC 1008, paras. 18-
22). Marijuana is the “Tree of Life.” From at least 1982
onward, Tucker and Baldasaro frequently litigated
in Federal Courts, Ontario Courts, and the Supreme
Court of Canada, arguing the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms permitted unrestricted marijuana
production, distribution, and use. Federal Courts’
docket records include 28 actions and appeals from
1985-2004. Supreme Court of Canada proceedings
include 12 Baldasaro and 14 Tucker unsuccessful
leave applications, the earliest of which solely involved
“Michael Baldasaro, Baron of Hamilton” (Baldasaro
v Ontario (12 March 1982), Ottawa 17400 (SCC)).
Church of the Universe litigation does not involve
pseudolaw concepts, though at one point Tucker and
Baldasaro attempted to involve the United Nations, but
via conventional means (MAB v Canada, 1993). The
Church of the Universe website listed Belanger as an
affiliate (see also “Minister Donald,” n.d.).
11 Archived website: https://web.archive.org/web/20221017225038/
http://www.iamm.com/.
Belanger’s other pre-CERI association, the EGCRD, is
less well documented. In the 1980s through to 2000s,
this group unsuccessfully sought religious tax-exempt
status (O’Halloran, 2014, p. 343), and operated illegal
drug and alcohol-related businesses, purporting these
were religious activities (Brooymans, 2001 Powell,
1998 R v Fehr, 2004 ABQB 859). The EGCRD made
flamboyant religious claims. For example, in 1994, an
after-hours bar, identified as a “Druid church,” was
raided and shut down by the Edmonton Police Service
(Farrell, 1994). The “Druids” supposed religious
activity was consuming “Druid fluid” (beer, rye, vodka)
and communing via telepathic prayer.
Belanger self-reports he became a “Head Druid” of the
Onoway Grove in 1993, and founded the Cariboo Grove
in 2003 (“Minister Donald,” n.d.). EGCRD “Grand
Druid” Kevin Sisk granted Belanger both a “Philosophy
Degree ...Ph.d Doctorate of Theosophy and Theocratic
law” and a “Master of law degree.” Interestingly, in a
2021 video, Belanger recounts his Druidical activities,
and explains that he and his peers from 1986 onward
used the very same Criminal Code based arguments
later employed by CERI (Paraclete, 2021a). Belanger
is explicit: the EGCRD was a mechanism to exploit
purported religious status for personal profit.
Belanger’s pseudolaw guru activities began in 2001. He
appeared in Alberta and Manitoba courts, claimed he
represented persons accused of criminal drug offenses,
and denounced the judges as traitors (Brooymans,
2001 Damuzi, 2001 “Faith In,” 2002 R v Friesen (6
December 2002), Winnipeg CR02-01-23494 (Man
QB)). Unsurprisingly, despite Belanger’s claims of
religious authority, the accused were convicted.
Belanger next attempted to intrude into a county
development decision, where he deployed pseudolaw
oath of office arguments (KiliniCreek/PatriciaHillsArea
Landowners v Lac Ste. Anne (County of) Subdivision
and Development Appeal Board, 2001 ABCA 92 Kilini
Creek Area Landowners v Lac Ste. Anne (County of),
2001 ABCA 117). At this point Belanger self-identified
both as a “Minister of the Church of Reformed Druids”
(Damuzi, 2001), and a “Minister” of CERI (“Letter to a
top Mason,” 2009).
CERI’s first known involvement in a court proceeding
occurred in 2002, when the Canada Trustco Mortgage
Company sought to foreclose Belanger’s Onoway-area
