Hamilton’s mayor has reached out to local businesses, cautioning them about an anti-immigration group promoting a conference in the vicinity. Andrea Horwath emphasized the importance of venues being well-informed about the organization and event purpose before deciding to host it. She highlighted the city’s diversity and expressed pride in its inclusive values, contrasting them with the Dominion Society of Canada’s advocacy for “remigration,” which involves deporting immigrants to their home countries.
Various Hamilton groups, including the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) and Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, jointly penned an open letter urging businesses and institutions not to rent space to Dominion Society. The letter also called on elected officials to condemn the group and commit to policies that do not contribute to the marginalization of immigrants and racialized communities in the area.
HARRC has released a guide to help venues avoid unintentionally renting to hate-promoting groups, citing instances where extremist groups like Diagolon and Second Sons secured spaces in community halls and gyms without the owners being fully aware of their intentions.
The Dominion Society’s website, a self-proclaimed nationalist group, propagates the great replacement conspiracy theory, asserting that white individuals are being replaced by racialized populations. The group advocates for mass deportations of various individuals, including temporary foreign workers, permanent residents, and even Canadian-born individuals without Canadian citizenship.
Barbara Perry, the director of the Centre on Hate, Bias, and Extremism at Ontario Tech University, criticized Dominion Society’s arguments as inherently racist and xenophobic for attributing the country’s issues to immigrants. Horwath’s letter referenced the Canadian Anti-Hate Network’s identification of Dominion Society as part of a growing white-nationalist movement in Canada.
Dominion Society denied being a hate group, claiming to be an advocacy group focused on Canadian heritage and immigration reform. They stated that the location of their upcoming event, DomCon, is kept secret to protect members from potential backlash. Horwath clarified that she is not instructing venues to act contrary to their policies but expects them to understand Dominion Society’s agenda and event nature before any bookings.
While the exact number of businesses receiving the mayor’s letter remains undisclosed, it was confirmed that local venues potentially hosting the advertised event were the recipients. The City of Hamilton has decided not to rent its facilities to the organization, with bylaw staff actively monitoring event-related materials on public property.
Hamilton police are devising a plan to address any risks, disruptions, or criminal activities related to DomCon 2026. They acknowledge the event’s potential to instill fear and uncertainty, particularly among those targeted by hateful rhetoric, and assure the community of a vigilant presence and enforcement actions where necessary. Police urge individuals facing threats, harassment, or hate-driven incidents to report them, while HARRC provides a community tool for reporting hate incidents.