International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation Volume 6 2023 86
apparent in Belanger’s other unsophisticated, even
ridiculous, materials.
Belanger is an inferior communicator, particularly
when compared with other leader figures in the
Canadian pseudolaw ecosystem. Belanger lacks the
folksy charm and personal familiarity of Freeman
Robert Arthur Menard (Netolitzky, 2021, p. 184), the
“muscular Freemanism” machismo of Dean Clifford
(Netolitzky, 2019, pp. 1171, 1195), or the intellectual
capacity, legal expertise, and clear communications
skills of David Kevin Lindsay (Netolitzky, 2016,
pp. 620-621 Netolitzky, 2023a, pp. 815-817).
Belanger communicates by monologue, unlike more
sophisticated “talk show” small group communicators,
such as Christopher James Pritchard of the “A Warrior
Calls” website (Netolitzky, 2023c, VI(A)).
Belanger obviously would prefer a broader audience, but
the litigation histories developed in this article suggest
Belanger is most effective when in close relationships
with a few individuals. Sometimes Belanger has
recorded videos during his one-on-one collaborations,
for example with the Volks. In these circumstances
Belanger heaps praise on his clientele, a practice that
parallels cultic “love bombing” techniques.
Belanger’s known pseudolaw activity is parasitic. He
attaches himself to and victimizes vulnerable persons.
Belanger drops and ejects his hosts once they no longer
serve his purpose. But what, exactly, is that purpose?
Here is the great puzzle with CERI. We have a strong
basis to conclude how CERI attracts affiliates. These
persons liked the power and scheme of pseudolaw,
tried one or more alternatives, failed, then turned to
CERI and Belanger as a replacement.
But what motivates Belanger to seek out and implant
himself within these conflict scenarios? He must,
at some level, know his ideas have not, and cannot,
work. So why has Belanger, for decades, operated
in this manner? One possible explanation is simply
personal gain. While Belanger admits he has received
money, he denies that he promotes pseudolaw for
profit (Netolitzky, 2019, p. 1196 Paraclete, 2012b).
Realistically, this denial means little, since Belanger
unilaterally declares practically anything a “religious”
activity, so no crass commercial “profit” could ever
occur.
In Meads v Meads (2012 ABQB 571, para. 184),
Associate Chief Justice Rooke classified CERI as a
“pot church,” in parallel to the Church of the Universe.
Belanger’s longer-term record and affiliations could
support that Belanger is simply a marijuana user
and legalization advocate who fabricated a religion
directed towards those objectives. While marijuana
use is clearly one of CERI’s foci, a more accurate
statement is that Belanger applies pseudolaw to engage
in criminal activity as a drug producer and trafficker.
In 2019 Belanger was convicted and sentenced to 75
days incarceration for large-scale illegal marijuana
production offenses (McCuaig, 2019, pp. 75-101 R
v Belanger (3 April 2019), Edmonton 180995987P1
(Alta PC)). However, Belanger’s illegal activity here
occurred after most restrictions on marijuana had been
lifted in Canada. Belanger’s drug production therefore
appears to have a commercial, rather than personal,
and/or political, objective. If so, perhaps Belanger has
been promoting CERI concepts so others can take the
fall, while Belanger develops a personal “get out of jail
free card” for his preferred economic activity: drug
production and trafficking.
But Belanger’s direct and proxy illegal activity,
supposedly justified on religious bases, is much
broader than that, and, for example, extends to illegal
motor vehicle use (R v Belanger (20 September 2018),
Edmonton 180222747P1 (Alta PC)), and getting “a
house for free” (Canada Trustco Mortgage Company v
Belanger, 2000f). Belanger’s objectives thus appear not
so much ideological, but, instead, results- and greed-
oriented. So that pattern makes Belanger little different
from the Canadian Freemen-on-the-Land, who sought
a social parasite and criminal lifestyle of “do as I please,”
and “take what I want” (Netolitzky, 2023a, pp. 818-
820).
Cultic studies expert Stephen Kent has argued
malignant narcissism is a commonplace characteristic
of cult leaders (Kent, 2021 Lane &Kent, 2008).
This condition combines narcissistic personality
disorder (“a grandiose sense of self-importance,” with
unwarranted belief in possessing “unique,” “perfect,” or
“gifted” qualities), with antisocial behavior, aggression,
and sadism (Campbell, 2009, p. 574 Shafti, 2019).
Malignant narcissism is a further potential explanation
for Belanger’s activities. Belanger is formally trained
as an artist, but not active as such. Belanger has been

ISSN: 2710-4028 DOI: doi.org/10.54208/1000/0006 87
estranged from his immediate family and separated
from his wife, at least at certain points. Belanger tends
to pop up online in pseudolaw-related discussions and
social resister scenarios, then espouse his brilliance
and special knowledge. He dredges for new followers.
Belanger clearly views himself as special and superior,
and seeks attention on that basis. As previously noted,
Belanger is unexpectedly hostile and insulting, not
only to government actors, but also to any pseudolaw
promoter who is more successful than himself, which
is pretty much Belanger’s entire competitor pool.
Belanger fabricates claims, for example that David
Kevin Lindsay is secretly a Canada Revenue Agency
operative, who intentionally loses in court. That
behaviour is atypical. Canadian pseudolaw gurus are
usually at least polite to one another.
Belanger’s brittle and hypersensitive response to
competition, failure, or “desertions” is consistent with
“narcissistic rage.” Belanger does not respond favorably
to criticism and/or exposure. An illustrative example is
a 2014 YouTube video where Belanger reacts negatively
to members of the pseudolaw critic Quatloos! forum,
who had documented and mocked Belanger’s consistent
litigation failure (Paraclete, 2014a). As this video
progresses Belanger becomes increasingly agitated,
making declarations such as: “That’s you and your
crew, Mr. Hilfskreuzer. You’re just like a vampire, you
must feel quite good about while the blood is dripping
down from your lips onto the page or the typing, uhm
keyboard there.” CERI is more than just Belanger’s
business, or a hobby. Belanger is deeply invested in his
“religious” enterprise. Perhaps that linkage explains
why Belanger has persisted, and thrust others into the
whirling blades of courtroom litigation, where those
followers experience predictable failure and harm.
CERI is Belanger’s only notable achievement, and so
he pursues it, no matter the cost to anyone else, or even
himself. If correct, then that focus only emphasizes
Belanger malignant personality. However, at present,
any psychiatric classification of Belanger can only be
a hypothesis. A pre-sentencing psychiatric evaluation
of Belanger in a criminal proceeding could provide
very interesting insights into the factors that have led
Belanger to his life and lifestyle of criminal and anti-
social activity.
E. CERI’s Future
CERI, in one form or another, dates back to the very
first emergences of pseudolaw in Canada. Since then,
nothing really has changed. That continuity and
longevity does not mean CERI was and is a success, but,
rather, that CERI has never really gotten off the ground
(Netolitzky, 2023a, pp. 820-821). While a marketplace
niche clearly still exists in Canada for pseudolaw
systems, the threshold to attract popular interest is
some tangible demonstrated success (Netolitzky,
2023a, pp. 831-832). Success is the one thing Belanger
cannot provide. His record as a total failure is public
knowledge. To achieve broader community attention,
Belanger would need to first establish courtroom
success, or demonstrate government has acceded to his
claims. Those outcomes will never occur.
Nevertheless, Belanger will likely continue to
accumulate and discard satellites. For example, in
November 2022, Belanger posted a package of CERI
“get out of jail free card” documents that purport to
terminate a criminal theft prosecution against Martha
Nagi Boni with the usual CERI Strawman claims, as
well as demanding international treaty-based religious
accommodation because “I am a child of God it will be
a sin for me to give my fingerprints and my body to you
and your friends to be photographed and used to serve
mammon as a prostitute. ...a commercial purpose.”
(“Sister Martha’s,” 2022). Here, Belanger’s intervention
will not provide Boni any benefit, and, instead, more
likely lead to a harsher sentencing result. That is what
CERI and Belanger provide--worse and aggravated
outcomes.
CERI will predictably continue in its current form until
Belanger’s death or incapacity. After that, CERI, which
really is just Belanger, will almost certainly evaporate.
CERI’s websites and social media will eventually
become inaccessible and/or forgotten. This article,
other academic commentary about CERI, archives of
pseudolaw such as the Quatloos! forum, and materials
preserved in court files, will be all that remains of this
curious expression of Canadian not-law: one man’s
decades long obsession, surrounded by wreckage of
many others, harmed by CERI’s false, hopeless, illegal
schemes.