A prominent far-right, white nationalist figure from Austria, who faced a permanent ban in the United Kingdom for spreading extremist ideologies, expressed his desire for Canada to allow his entry as he prepares to speak at a conference in Hamilton later this month. Martin Sellner is slated as a featured speaker at an upcoming event organized by the Dominion Society, a group advocating for “remigration,” which focuses on mass deportations of immigrants.

Sellner was prohibited from entering the UK in 2019 due to security concerns. The UK government, as revealed by Sellner’s organization, highlighted him as a significant threat to the country’s efforts against extremism. In a related incident, Sellner’s U.S. travel permit was revoked in 2019 after it was discovered that the Christchurch mosque shooter in New Zealand had donated about 1,500 euros to him. The shooter was later convicted for the mosque attack that resulted in 51 deaths and 40 attempted murders.

In 2024, German authorities imposed a three-year entry ban on Sellner following a nationalist meeting that sparked widespread protests. Canadian government officials, citing privacy regulations, declined to confirm whether Sellner would be allowed entry into Canada. A spokesperson for Immigration Minister Lena Diab 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 or terrorism, espionage, or association with organized crime.

Sellner’s potential visit to Canada has raised concerns, with an anti-racism scholar in Hamilton, Ameil Joseph, suggesting that if other nations have restricted Sellner’s access, Canada should consider similar measures. Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath has reached out to venue owners in the area to inform them about the Dominion Society’s objectives, emphasizing that there is no room for hate, racism, or discrimination in Hamilton. The mayor stated that the City of Hamilton would not rent any facilities to the Dominion Society.

The Dominion Society of Canada, a self-proclaimed nationalist group, endorses the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, claiming that white individuals are being displaced by racialized groups. The group advocates for mass deportations, including temporary foreign workers, permanent residents, and even individuals born in Canada to non-Canadian citizens.

Amidst these developments, Daniel Tyrie, Chair of the Dominion Society, defended Sellner’s potential visit to Canada, asserting that preventing him from entering the country would amount to political persecution. Tyrie criticized Mayor Horwath’s remarks as inappropriate and suggested they could fuel political polarization and encourage violence. Joseph highlighted the challenges posed by white nationalist groups in Hamilton, drawing parallels between the Dominion Society and other extremist organizations that attempt to legitimize their ideologies through mainstream political discourse.

Experts have noted that economic anxieties are exploited by white supremacists to promote theories like the “great replacement,” which alleges deliberate government efforts to diminish the political influence of white populations through immigration policies. Raqib Naik, from the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, mentioned that the concept of remigration, once on the fringes, has gained traction in mainstream U.S. discourse. Naik emphasized that these movements exploit genuine economic concerns to attract followers, even if they are not explicitly white supremacists.

The U.S. State Department has used the term “remigration” in the context of its migration policies, aiming not to manage but to foster remigration. Naik cautioned that individuals drawn to these movements often harbor legitimate worries about housing, job markets, and affordability, which are exploited by white supremacist groups.