Hamilton’s mayor has reached out to local businesses, urging them to be cautious of an anti-immigration group advertising a conference in the vicinity. Andrea Horwath emphasized the importance of venues being well-informed about the organization and event purpose before hosting. The Dominion Society of Canada, promoting an event called DomCon 2026 on August 29, has been advocating for “remigration,” which involves deporting immigrants to their home countries.
Horwath expressed pride in leading a diverse city, highlighting the values of inclusion, respect, and ensuring a sense of belonging for everyone in Hamilton. Various Hamilton groups, including the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) and Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, issued an open letter on August 4, advising businesses against renting space to Dominion Society. They called on elected officials to denounce the group and commit to policies that do not contribute to the scapegoating of immigrants and racialized communities.
HARRC also released a guide to help venues avoid unintentionally renting to hate-promoting groups. Recent incidents involving extremist groups securing space at community halls and gyms, unbeknownst to the owners, have raised concerns. The Dominion Society’s website promotes the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, asserting that white people are being replaced by racialized individuals. The group advocates for mass deportation, including temporary foreign workers, permanent residents, and individuals born in Canada to non-Canadian citizens.
Barbara Perry from Ontario Tech University’s Centre on Hate, Bias, and Extremism criticized Dominion Society’s arguments as inherently racist and xenophobic. Horwath referenced the Canadian Anti-Hate Network identifying Dominion Society as part of a growing white-nationalist movement in Canada. Dominion Society defended itself as an advocacy group focusing on immigration reform rather than a hate group.
Hamilton police are devising a plan to address any potential risks or criminal activities associated with DomCon 2026. They acknowledge the event’s promotion may evoke fear and uncertainty, particularly among community members targeted by hateful rhetoric. Police assure a visible presence and enforcement action where necessary, urging individuals to report threats, harassment, or hate-motivated incidents. HARRC provides a community tool for reporting hate incidents.