Austrian far-right figure Martin Sellner, known for promoting extremist views, expresses hope to enter Canada for an upcoming conference in Hamilton. The conference, organized by the Dominion Society, advocates for “remigration,” the mass expulsion of immigrants. Sellner faced a permanent UK ban in 2019 due to security concerns and had his U.S. travel permit revoked the same year after receiving donations from the Christchurch mosque shooter. German authorities imposed a three-year entry ban on Sellner in 2024 following protests triggered by a nationalist meeting.
Canadian officials, citing privacy laws, remain silent on Sellner’s admission status but emphasize adherence to Immigration and Refugee Protection Act standards. Sellner’s potential entry stirs controversy, with anti-racism scholar Ameil Joseph suggesting Canada should follow other nations in restricting his access. Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath warns venue owners about the Dominion Society’s anti-immigrant agenda and pledges not to rent space to the group.
The Dominion Society website promotes the “great replacement” theory, claiming white people are being displaced by racialized individuals. The group advocates for the deportation of various non-Canadian citizens, including temporary workers and permanent residents. Joseph criticizes Sellner and similar groups for advocating ethnic-based deportations disguised as immigration policies. Dominion Society Chair Daniel Tyrie defends Sellner’s visit, condemning potential bans as political persecution and urging peaceful assembly rights.
White nationalist activities in Hamilton, including Sons of Odin and Nationalist 13, raise concerns. Joseph draws parallels between the Dominion Society’s rhetoric and past extremist strategies used to legitimize radical ideas. Exploiting economic anxieties, these groups push the “great replacement” theory, alleging deliberate dilution of white political power through immigration. Experts warn that such narratives prey on genuine economic concerns, manipulating individuals into supporting discriminatory ideologies.
Raqib Naik from the Center for the Study of Organized Hate highlights the mainstreaming of remigration policies and their impact on non-white populations, suggesting a shift in migration strategies. The U.S. State Department’s remigration policy aims to influence migration patterns. Naik underscores how individuals, not necessarily white supremacists, are lured to these groups due to economic insecurities that extremists exploit.