Michael Baldasaro
Encyclopedia
Michael A. James Baldasaro is a political and religious figure in Hamilton, Ontario
. Together, with his friend Walter Tucker, he presides over a religious sect known as the Church of the Universe. Baldasaro has received significant media coverage over his lifetimes for his advocacy on behalf of marijuana legalization, as well as his status as a perennial candidates in numerous Hamilton-area elections.
, where he is commonly known as Brother Michael. The Church has been in existence since 1969, when it was founded by Walter Tucker, who remains active in its operations. Its members use marijuana
as a sacrament
and previously operated a nudist camp in Puslinch, Ontario
, named Clearwater Abbey. In 2004, after selling small amounts of marijuana on multiple occasions to an undercover police officer at their Barton Street, Hamilton residence, Baldasaro and Tucker were arrested and charged with trafficking. In 2007, they pleaded not guilty to the charges but after a lengthy trial, a jury found them both guilty. At their sentencing hearing in April 2008, Baldasaro, who had 12 previous trafficking convictions, was sentenced to a two year penitentiary term while Tucker was sentenced to a one year reformatory term. The Crown also applied to the court to have the property from which they distributed marijuana and their Church forfeited to the federal government as an offence-related property, and the Crown's application was granted.
, saw his support peak in 1988, when he was the sole opponent of incumbent mayor Bob Morrow
. He received over 7,500 votes, which was approximately 10% of the vote.
Baldasaro stood in the 2004 Ward 2 by-election, following the resignation of Andrea Horwath, and placed seventh out of eleven candidates with 52 votes. In 2006, Baldasaro again ran for mayor of Hamilton and received 4,520 votes or 3.61% of the total vote.
Baldasaro has run for Parliament
three times. In 1984
, Baldasaro received 300 votes as a Libertarian
candidate in the federal riding of Hamilton West. In 2000
, Baldasaro won 573 votes as a Marijuana Party of Canada
candidate in Hamilton East. In 2004
, Baldasaro received 345 votes as an independent candidate in Hamilton Centre
. In 2006, Baldasaro again ran for mayor of Hamilton and received 4,520 votes or 3.61% of the total vote.
Baldasaro also announced he would be a candidate for the Progressive Conservative leadership convention
in 1998. He developed a plan to revitalize the party's flagging poll numbers by encouraging direct democracy
, pardoning individuals convicted on marijuana possession, cutting government pensions and making the words to O Canada
gender neutral. Baldasaro was forced to withdraw when he could not meet the filing fee and threatened legal action against the party when they refused to waive $30,000 entrance fee.
Two years later, in 2000, Baldasaro attempted to join the Canadian Alliance
leadership race. His plans again involved legalizing marijuana, but this time also favoured abolishing political parties altogether. He openly admitted that the challenge was mostly for publicity, and that he did not expect to win against the likes of Preston Manning
or Stockwell Day
. He was dissuaded, once more, by the party's $25,000 leadership nomination fee.
More recently, Baldasaro started a campaign to save Hamilton's Center Mall from conversion into a 'power center' operated by SmartCenters. In 2007, during Hamilton City Council's
debate over the renovation of City Hall
, Baldasaro and Tucker sent a letter addressed to Mayor Fred Eisenberger
and City Council
, requesting they move municipal operations to Stelco Tower, in Hamilton's downtown core.
Baldasaro was a candidate for the 2010 Hamilton Municipal Elections, once again running for Mayor. He finished fourth in a field of fifteen candidates, with 2.05% of the vote.
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
. Together, with his friend Walter Tucker, he presides over a religious sect known as the Church of the Universe. Baldasaro has received significant media coverage over his lifetimes for his advocacy on behalf of marijuana legalization, as well as his status as a perennial candidates in numerous Hamilton-area elections.
The Church of the Universe
Baldasaro is a member of the Church of the UniverseChurch of the Universe
The Assembly of the Church of the Universe, an entheogen religion, was established by Walter Tucker in 1969 in the Canadian province of Ontario....
, where he is commonly known as Brother Michael. The Church has been in existence since 1969, when it was founded by Walter Tucker, who remains active in its operations. Its members use marijuana
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
as a sacrament
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
and previously operated a nudist camp in Puslinch, Ontario
Puslinch, Ontario
Puslinch is a township in south-central Ontario, Canada, in the County of Wellington south of Guelph. The area is rich in natural gas resources. The main source of production is agricultural, bottling and mining. Mining has been dominant throughout the county. About half of the township is...
, named Clearwater Abbey. In 2004, after selling small amounts of marijuana on multiple occasions to an undercover police officer at their Barton Street, Hamilton residence, Baldasaro and Tucker were arrested and charged with trafficking. In 2007, they pleaded not guilty to the charges but after a lengthy trial, a jury found them both guilty. At their sentencing hearing in April 2008, Baldasaro, who had 12 previous trafficking convictions, was sentenced to a two year penitentiary term while Tucker was sentenced to a one year reformatory term. The Crown also applied to the court to have the property from which they distributed marijuana and their Church forfeited to the federal government as an offence-related property, and the Crown's application was granted.
Political Activities
Baldasaro, a perennial candidatePerennial candidate
A perennial candidate is one who frequently runs for public office with a record of success that is infrequent, if existent at all. Perennial candidates are often either members of minority political parties or have political opinions that are not mainstream. They may run without any serious hope...
, saw his support peak in 1988, when he was the sole opponent of incumbent mayor Bob Morrow
Bob Morrow
Robert Maxwell Morrow UE is a Canadian politician, who served as mayor of Hamilton, Ontario from 1982 to 2000. He was the longest-serving mayor in the city's history....
. He received over 7,500 votes, which was approximately 10% of the vote.
Baldasaro stood in the 2004 Ward 2 by-election, following the resignation of Andrea Horwath, and placed seventh out of eleven candidates with 52 votes. In 2006, Baldasaro again ran for mayor of Hamilton and received 4,520 votes or 3.61% of the total vote.
Baldasaro has run for Parliament
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
three times. In 1984
Canadian federal election, 1984
The Canadian federal election of 1984 was held on September 4 of that year to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 33rd Parliament of Canada...
, Baldasaro received 300 votes as a Libertarian
Libertarian Party of Canada
The Libertarian Party of Canada is a political party in Canada that subscribes to the tenets of the libertarian movement across Canada.-History:...
candidate in the federal riding of Hamilton West. In 2000
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
, Baldasaro won 573 votes as a Marijuana Party of Canada
Marijuana Party of Canada
The Marijuana Party is a Canadian federal political party. Its agenda consists of ending prohibition of cannabis. With the exception of this one issue, the party does not have "official policy" in any other area...
candidate in Hamilton East. In 2004
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
, Baldasaro received 345 votes as an independent candidate in Hamilton Centre
Hamilton Centre
Hamilton Centre is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.It was created in 2003 from parts of Hamilton East, Hamilton West and Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Aldershot ridings....
. In 2006, Baldasaro again ran for mayor of Hamilton and received 4,520 votes or 3.61% of the total vote.
Baldasaro also announced he would be a candidate for the Progressive Conservative leadership convention
Progressive Conservative leadership conventions
The first Progressive Conservative Party of Canada leadership election was held in 1927, when the party was called the Conservative Party. Prior to then the party's leader was chosen by caucus....
in 1998. He developed a plan to revitalize the party's flagging poll numbers by encouraging direct democracy
Direct democracy
Direct democracy is a form of government in which people vote on policy initiatives directly, as opposed to a representative democracy in which people vote for representatives who then vote on policy initiatives. Direct democracy is classically termed "pure democracy"...
, pardoning individuals convicted on marijuana possession, cutting government pensions and making the words to O Canada
O Canada
It has been noted that the opening theme of "O Canada" bears a strong resemblance to the "Marsch der Priester" , from the opera Die Zauberflöte , composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and that Lavallée's melody was inspired by Mozart's tune...
gender neutral. Baldasaro was forced to withdraw when he could not meet the filing fee and threatened legal action against the party when they refused to waive $30,000 entrance fee.
Two years later, in 2000, Baldasaro attempted to join the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance leadership elections
The Canadian Alliance, a conservative political party in Canada, held two leadership elections to choose the party's leader. The first was held shortly after the party's founding in 2000, and the second was held in 2002...
leadership race. His plans again involved legalizing marijuana, but this time also favoured abolishing political parties altogether. He openly admitted that the challenge was mostly for publicity, and that he did not expect to win against the likes of Preston Manning
Preston Manning
Ernest Preston Manning, CC is a Canadian politician. He was the only leader of the Reform Party of Canada, a Canadian federal political party that evolved into the Canadian Alliance...
or Stockwell Day
Stockwell Day
Stockwell Burt Day, Jr., PC, MP is a former Canadian politician, and a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. He is a former cabinet minister in Alberta, and a former leader of the Canadian Alliance. Day was MP for the riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla in British Columbia and the president of...
. He was dissuaded, once more, by the party's $25,000 leadership nomination fee.
More recently, Baldasaro started a campaign to save Hamilton's Center Mall from conversion into a 'power center' operated by SmartCenters. In 2007, during Hamilton City Council's
Hamilton City Council
The Hamilton City Council is the governing body of the City of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.The current council consists of the mayor plus fifteen councillors, one elected from each of the city's wards. The incumbent council was elected in a municipal election on November 13, 2006...
debate over the renovation of City Hall
Hamilton City Hall
Hamilton City Hall is located in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It is an 8-storey building , located at the corner of Main Street West and Bay Street South, across the street from the Ronald V. Joyce Centre for the Performing Arts and the Hamilton Art Gallery. It was officially opened on...
, Baldasaro and Tucker sent a letter addressed to Mayor Fred Eisenberger
Fred Eisenberger
Fred Eisenberger is a Canadian politician. He is a former mayor of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, having been elected to the position on November 13, 2006. The margin of victory over incumbent Larry Di Ianni was a mere 452 votes in one of the closest races in Hamilton's history...
and City Council
Hamilton City Council
The Hamilton City Council is the governing body of the City of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.The current council consists of the mayor plus fifteen councillors, one elected from each of the city's wards. The incumbent council was elected in a municipal election on November 13, 2006...
, requesting they move municipal operations to Stelco Tower, in Hamilton's downtown core.
Baldasaro was a candidate for the 2010 Hamilton Municipal Elections, once again running for Mayor. He finished fourth in a field of fifteen candidates, with 2.05% of the vote.
External links
- House of Commons election history by riding