Hamilton’s mayor has reached out to local businesses, urging them to stay vigilant about an anti-immigration group promoting a conference in the area. Andrea Horwath emphasized the importance of venues having full knowledge about the organization and event purpose before considering hosting it. She expressed pride in leading a diverse city and highlighted concerns about the Dominion Society of Canada, which is backing an event named DomCon 2026 on Aug. 29. This group advocates for “remigration,” the deportation of immigrants to their home countries.
Horwath underscored the community’s values of inclusion, respect, and belonging for everyone in Hamilton. Several local organizations, including the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) and Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, joined forces in an open letter urging businesses not to rent space to the Dominion Society. They called on elected officials to condemn the group and commit to policies that do not contribute to the scapegoating of immigrants in Hamilton.
HARRC also released a guide to help venues avoid inadvertently renting space to hate-promoting groups. Recent instances were cited where extremist groups like Diagolon and Second Sons secured space in community halls and gyms without the owners being aware of their true intentions.
The Dominion Society of Canada, labeled a nationalist group, promotes the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, claiming white people are being replaced by racialized individuals. The group advocates for mass deportation of various individuals, including temporary foreign workers and Canadian-born non-citizens. Barbara Perry, from the Centre on Hate, Bias, and Extremism at Ontario Tech University, described the group’s arguments as inherently racist and xenophobic.
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 defended itself as an advocacy group focused on immigration reform rather than a hate group. It keeps the conference location secret to avoid backlash from dissenters.
The mayor clarified that she is not asking venues to act beyond their policies but to be informed about Dominion Society’s mandate and event nature when considering any bookings related to the organization. Although the number of businesses receiving the mayor’s letter was not disclosed, it was confirmed that city facilities would not be made available to the organization.
Hamilton police are formulating a plan to address any potential risks or criminal activities associated with DomCon 2026. They acknowledge the event’s potential to incite fear and uncertainty, particularly among those targeted by hateful rhetoric. The police assure they will maintain a visible presence and enforce actions where legally justified. Community members are encouraged to report any threats, harassment, or hate-motivated incidents, with HARRC offering a tool for reporting such incidents.