A far-right, white nationalist Austrian individual who has been permanently prohibited from entering the United Kingdom due to promoting extreme narratives expressed his wish this week that Canada will allow him entry for an upcoming conference in Hamilton. Martin Sellner is slated to be a keynote speaker at an event organized by the Dominion Society on August 29, advocating for “remigration,” which entails the mass expulsion of immigrants.
Sellner was barred from entering the U.K. in 2019 on security grounds, with a government letter stating he posed a significant threat to the country’s efforts against extremism. In a similar vein, his U.S. travel permit was revoked in 2019 after it was revealed that the Christchurch mosque shooter in New Zealand had made a donation to him. German authorities imposed a three-year entry ban on Sellner in 2024 following protests triggered by a nationalist gathering.
Canadian government officials, citing privacy regulations, have refrained from disclosing whether Sellner will be allowed into the country. A representative from Immigration Minister Lena Diab’s office emphasized that individuals entering Canada must adhere to the admissibility criteria outlined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which includes factors like involvement in violence, terrorism, or organized crime groups.
Despite Sellner’s intentions to speak at the conference, concerns have been raised by anti-racism scholar Ameil Joseph, who suggested that Canada should consider restricting his access if other nations have done so. Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath has been informing venue owners in the area about the Dominion Society’s principles to ensure informed booking decisions. Horwath reiterated that there is no place for hate, racism, or discrimination in Hamilton and declared that the city will not rent any space to the Dominion Society.
The Dominion Society of Canada, a self-proclaimed nationalist group, endorses the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, asserting that white individuals are being replaced by racialized individuals. The group advocates for the mass deportation of various groups, including temporary foreign workers, permanent residents, and individuals born in Canada to non-Canadian citizens.
Daniel Tyrie, chair of the Dominion Society, argued that preventing Sellner from entering Canada would constitute political persecution. He criticized Horwath’s remarks as inappropriate and stated that Canadians have the right to assemble peacefully and discuss their visions for the future. Joseph highlighted the challenges Hamilton has faced with white nationalist groups and underscored the insidious tactics used by such organizations to promote their ideologies.
Experts have noted the exploitation of economic anxieties by white supremacist groups to advance their agendas, with a focus on the “great replacement” theory, which posits deliberate dilution of white political power through immigration. The concept of remigration, moving from the fringes to mainstream discourse, has gained traction, with its implications concerning non-white populations being scrutinized. Anxieties about housing, job markets, and affordability are leveraged by white supremacists to attract followers, exploiting genuine concerns within society.
