A far-right, white nationalist Austrian, previously banned from entering the United Kingdom for promoting extremist ideologies, expressed his hope this week that Canada would not bar him from attending a conference in Hamilton later this month.
Martin Sellner is scheduled to be a keynote speaker at an August 29 event organized by the Dominion Society, which advocates for “remigration,” the mass expulsion of immigrants.
Sellner faced a permanent ban from the U.K. in 2019 due to security concerns. The U.K. government, as disclosed by Sellner’s group, highlighted him as a significant threat to the country’s efforts against extremism, as reported by The Guardian.
His U.S. travel permit was also revoked in 2019 after it was revealed that the Christchurch mosque shooter in New Zealand had donated approximately 1,500 euros to him. The Christchurch perpetrator was convicted of the murder of 51 individuals and attempted murder of 40 others in the March 2019 terrorist incident.
In 2024, German authorities imposed a three-year entry ban on Sellner following a nationalist gathering that led to significant protests.
Canadian officials, citing privacy laws, have not confirmed whether Sellner will be allowed entry. A spokesperson for Immigration Minister Lena Diab stated that individuals entering Canada must meet the admissibility criteria outlined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Hamilton-based anti-racism scholar Ameil Joseph suggested that if Sellner is restricted from other countries, Canada should consider similar actions. Joseph emphasized that Sellner could share his views online or elsewhere without physically attending a location like Hamilton, which already grapples with a growing white nationalist presence.
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath has notified venue owners in the area about the Dominion Society’s objectives to enable informed booking decisions in the full context of the group’s beliefs. Horwath affirmed that the City of Hamilton would not lease any premises to the Dominion Society.
The Dominion Society of Canada, a self-proclaimed nationalist organization, endorses the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, alleging that white individuals are being replaced by racialized groups. The group advocates for mass deportations of various individuals, including temporary foreign workers, permanent residents, and individuals born in Canada to non-Canadian parents.
Joseph cautioned against affiliating with groups like the Dominion Society, pointing out that they advance ethnic-based deportation arguments under the guise of immigration debates. He highlighted the exploitation of economic concerns by white supremacist groups to promote theories like the “great replacement.”
Daniel Tyrie, Chair of the Dominion Society, defended Sellner’s potential entry into Canada, labeling any attempt to bar him as political persecution. Tyrie criticized Horwath’s stance as inappropriate and divisive, asserting that individuals, even those with differing views, have the right to convene peacefully.
Experts underscored the utilization of economic uncertainties to propel extremist narratives and underscored that movements like remigration target non-white populations. Raqib Naik, from the Center for the Study of Organized Hate in Washington, highlighted how anxieties related to housing, job opportunities, and affordability are exploited by white supremacists to attract followers.
The U.S. State Department adopted the term “remigration” in its migration policy, aiming to facilitate the return of individuals to their countries of origin. Naik emphasized that individuals drawn to such movements are often motivated by genuine concerns about socio-economic issues that are manipulated by white supremacist groups.