Hamilton’s mayor has reached out to local businesses, urging them to be cautious of an anti-immigration group promoting an upcoming conference in the area. Andrea Horwath emphasized the importance of venues having clear information about the organization and event purpose before agreeing to host it. She highlighted the city’s diversity and expressed concerns about the Dominion Society of Canada, the group behind the event called DomCon 2026, advocating for “remigration” or the deportation of immigrants. Horwath underscored the values of inclusion, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone in Hamilton.
Several 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 and institutions against renting space to the Dominion Society. They called on elected officials to denounce the group and commit to policies that do not contribute to the targeting of immigrants and racialized communities. HARRC also released a guide to assist venues in avoiding unintentionally renting space to hate-promoting groups.
In an interview with CBC Hamilton, HARRC director Lyndon George referenced instances where extremist groups such as Diagolon and Second Sons secured venues like community halls and gyms without the owners being aware of their true intentions. The Dominion Society’s website, a self-proclaimed nationalist group, promotes the “great replacement” conspiracy theory and advocates for mass deportations, including temporary foreign workers and permanent residents.
Barbara Perry from Ontario Tech University’s Centre on Hate, Bias, and Extremism, described the Dominion Society’s arguments as inherently racist and xenophobic, attributing the country’s issues to immigrants. Mayor Horwath’s letter highlighted the Canadian Anti-Hate Network’s identification of Dominion Society within a growing white-nationalist movement in Canada. Dominion Society defended itself as an advocacy group focusing on immigration reform rather than a hate group.
The mayor clarified that she is not requesting venues to act beyond their policies but emphasized the importance of understanding the organization’s mandate and event nature before any bookings. The exact number of businesses that received the mayor’s letter was not disclosed, but Horwath confirmed that city facilities would not be made available to the organization, and bylaw staff are monitoring related event materials on public property.
Hamilton police are developing a plan to address any risks or criminal activities associated with DomCon 2026, acknowledging community concerns about potential fear and targeting due to hateful rhetoric. They assured a visible and appropriate presence to maintain law and order and encouraged reporting of threats or hate incidents. HARRC provides a community tool for reporting hate incidents as well.