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Porisky was the brains behind Paradigm Education Group, which teaches followers that taxes are unconstitutional and that taxing a human being’s labour is a confiscation of property and, therefore, against the Canadian Bill of Rights.

Through books, pamphlets, CDs, seminars and the Internet, the group taught that the federal government set up a parallel legal system in order to overcome the constitutional problems with taxation.

Much like in the movie The Matrix, citizens “awaken” to the fact that this parallel taxation system was created and learn how to withdraw from it and declare no tax owing.

Why intelligent, educated folks would fall prey to this kind of a plan or scheme is baffling

Court heard the Websters paid more than $31,200 to “educator” Lee Williams to learn how to succeed in the scheme.

The money paid to Williams was roughly seven to 10 per cent of what they “saved” by not filing taxes.

Williams then passed a percentage on to Porisky, who had already been sentenced to four years in prison.

Williams is currently serving a five-year prison sentence. His wife, Ottawa-area dentist Tanya Kovaluk, received 2½ years after herself evading nearly a million dollars in taxes while aiding Williams.

The Websters received much lighter sentences from the court, although lawyer Leonard Shore said the personal cost from participating in the “cockamamie” scheme has been immense.

They have liens on their Kanata home for twice its worth and a sheriff banging on their door with an eviction notice. The church-going couple, who have been married 41 years, also spent time behind bars being introduced to a “subculture” at the Innes Road jail they had never been exposed to before, said Shore.