A far-right Austrian with white nationalist views, Martin Sellner, has been permanently barred from the United Kingdom for promoting extremist ideologies. Sellner, who advocates for “remigration,” the mass deportation of immigrants, is slated to speak at a conference in Hamilton later this month. Despite facing bans from the U.K. and Germany, and having his U.S. travel permit revoked due to ties with the Christchurch mosque shooter, Sellner is now seeking entry into Canada.
Sellner’s potential entry into Canada remains uncertain as government officials have not disclosed if he will be allowed in. The Immigration Minister’s office emphasized that individuals must meet the admissibility criteria outlined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which includes factors such as involvement in violence or terrorism that may render someone inadmissible to the country.
In response to Sellner’s scheduled appearance in Hamilton, anti-racism scholar Ameil Joseph suggested that Canada should consider restricting his access given the actions taken by other nations. Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath has taken steps to inform venue owners about the Dominion Society’s beliefs and has stated that the city will not rent any space to the organization.
The Dominion Society, a nationalist group in Canada, supports the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, claiming that white people are being replaced by racialized individuals. The group advocates for mass deportation, targeting various categories of individuals, including temporary foreign workers and permanent residents.
Experts warn that white supremacist groups like the Dominion Society exploit economic anxieties to push their agendas. They argue that these groups are essentially advocating for ethnic-based deportations under the guise of immigration policies. Despite pushback from critics, the Dominion Society defends its positions, asserting the right to peaceful assembly and free expression of ideas.
The organization’s attempts to sanitize extremist beliefs and align them with mainstream discourse have drawn comparisons to past figures like David Duke. By framing their rhetoric in a more palatable manner, these groups aim to influence public opinion and policy discussions. Concerns have been raised about how such groups manipulate economic concerns to advance divisive theories like the “great replacement.”
Raqib Naik, an expert on organized hate, points out that the concept of remigration, which originated in Europe, has gained traction in the U.S. as well. The term has been linked to migration policies that prioritize the return of non-white populations to their countries of origin. Naik emphasizes that these movements often exploit genuine economic anxieties to attract supporters, even if those individuals may not identify as white supremacists themselves.