A far-right Austrian with white nationalist views, who was permanently barred from the United Kingdom for promoting extremist ideologies, expressed his hope that Canada would not refuse him entry as he plans to speak at a conference in Hamilton later this month. Martin Sellner is featured as a keynote speaker for an upcoming event organized by the Dominion Society on August 29, which advocates for “remigration,” the forcible removal of immigrants.
Sellner faced a permanent ban from the U.K. in 2019 due to security concerns. The British government highlighted him as a significant threat to their efforts against extremism, as reported by The Guardian. Furthermore, his U.S. travel permit was revoked the same year after it was revealed that the perpetrator of the Christchurch mosque attacks in New Zealand had donated funds to him.
In 2024, Sellner was issued a three-year entry ban by German authorities following a nationalist gathering that sparked considerable protests. Canadian officials, citing privacy regulations, declined to confirm whether Sellner would be allowed entry into the country. According to a spokesperson from Immigration Minister Lena Diab’s office, individuals entering Canada must meet the stipulated admissibility criteria outlined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Hamilton-based anti-racism scholar Ameil Joseph suggested that if other nations have restricted Sellner’s access, Canada should also consider doing the same. Mayor Andrea Horwath of Hamilton stated that the city would not provide venue rentals to the Dominion Society, emphasizing that there is no place for hatred or discrimination in Hamilton.
The Dominion Society’s website promotes the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, claiming that white individuals are being displaced by racialized groups. The organization advocates for the mass deportation of various groups, including temporary foreign workers, permanent residents, and individuals born in Canada to non-Canadian citizens.
Joseph warned that groups like the Dominion Society exploit economic concerns to advance their agenda, aiming to deport individuals based on their ethnicity. He highlighted the danger of such movements in stoking political polarization and violence. Raqib Naik, an expert on organized hate, emphasized how these groups manipulate people’s genuine economic anxieties to propagate divisive theories like remigration.
Sellner’s potential entry into Canada has stirred controversy, with concerns raised about his extremist views and their potential impact. The Dominion Society’s activities and ideologies continue to draw scrutiny from anti-racism advocates and officials, underscoring the ongoing challenges posed by white nationalist groups in the region.