An Austrian far-right, white nationalist, who was permanently banned from the United Kingdom for promoting extremist ideologies, expressed his hopes of being allowed into Canada for an upcoming conference in Hamilton. Martin Sellner is scheduled to speak at a Dominion Society event on August 29, focusing on advocating for “remigration,” which involves mass deportation of immigrants.
Sellner faced a ban from entering the U.K. in 2019 due to security concerns, as he was perceived as a significant threat to the country’s fight against extremism. His U.S. travel permit was also revoked in the same year after it was revealed that the Christchurch mosque shooter in New Zealand had donated money to him. The shooter was convicted of killing 51 people and attempting to murder 40 more in a terrorist attack in March 2019. In 2024, German authorities imposed a three-year entry ban on Sellner following protests triggered by a nationalist gathering.
Canadian officials, citing privacy laws, declined to comment on Sellner’s potential entry, emphasizing that anyone coming to Canada must meet the admissibility requirements outlined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Reasons for being deemed inadmissible include involvement in espionage, violence or terrorism, or affiliation with organized crime.
In response to promotion by the Dominion Society, Sellner expressed his desire to attend the conference in Hamilton. Ameil Joseph, an anti-racism scholar in Hamilton, suggested that Canada should consider restricting Sellner’s access based on restrictions imposed by other countries. Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath has been informing venue owners about the nature of the Dominion Society to help them make informed booking decisions.
The Dominion Society website promotes the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, claiming that white people are being replaced by racialized individuals. The organization advocates for mass deportation, targeting various groups, including temporary foreign workers, permanent residents, and individuals born in Canada to non-Canadian citizens.
Daniel Tyrie, Chair of the Dominion Society, defended Sellner’s potential visit to Canada, labeling any attempts to prevent it as political persecution. He criticized Mayor Horwath’s opposition and emphasized the right of Canadians, even those with differing views, to assemble peacefully and discuss their perspectives for the future.
Hamilton has encountered challenges with white nationalist groups like the Sons of Odin and Nationalist 13. Joseph highlighted the Dominion Society’s use of mainstream discourse to disseminate ideas shared with extremist groups. He warned about exploiting economic concerns to promote the “great replacement” theory, suggesting that anxieties about housing and job markets are manipulated by white supremacists.
Raqib Naik, from the Center for the Study of Organized Hate in Washington, discussed the rise of the remigration concept in the U.S., emphasizing how it targets non-white populations. Naik highlighted how economic anxieties are exploited by white supremacists to push their narratives. The U.S. State Department’s migration policy includes the term remigration, aimed at fostering the return of individuals to their countries of origin.