Arlan Galbraith, who faces fraud and bankruptcy act charges, told a judge he has fired his lawyer and wants to represent himself.
Galbraith appeared in a Kitchener courtroom on Monday in connection with the charges, which were laid in late 2010.
He has been out on bail since his arrest and it was the first time he has appeared in court in person in about a year.
Many details of the case cannot be reported due to a publication ban.
However, during the proceedings Galbraith told the judge in the case he now wants to represent himself.
Justice Gary Hearn, who is hearing the case, urged Galbraith to get a new lawyer.
But Galbraith claims that with the volume of documents, about 600,000 pages, it would take a new lawyer two years to become fully acquainted with the case.
Asked why he wanted to represent himself, Galbraith told CTV News, "That's between me and my lawyer."
Legal analyst Steven Skurka says Galbraith should take the judge's advice.
"In any situation you're far better off with experienced and skilled counsel, because you know, you don't go into an operating room without a trained doctor, and you don't go into a courtroom without a trained lawyer."
Galbraith also told the judge he wants a preliminary hearing and a trial in front of a jury.
The criminal charges relate to Galbraith's company Pigeon King International Inc., which went bankrupt in 2008. He claimed personal bankruptcy a year later.
An estimated 1,000 farmers allege they invested $20 to $30 million in pigeon-raising businesses with the promise of guaranteed financial returns.
The judge has given Galbraith three weeks to reconsider his decision. He is expected to return to court on March 19.
