Hamilton’s mayor has reached out to local businesses, urging them to be cautious of an anti-immigration organization promoting an upcoming conference in the area. Andrea Horwath emphasized the importance of venues being informed about the group and event’s purpose before deciding to host it. She expressed pride in leading a diverse city and highlighted the Dominion Society of Canada, which is advocating for an event named DomCon 2026 and pushing for “remigration” policies.
While acknowledging the freedom of speech, Horwath stressed the community’s values of inclusion, respect, and ensuring everyone feels a sense of belonging in Hamilton. Several Hamilton groups, including the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) and Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, jointly signed an open letter on August 4, urging businesses and institutions to refrain from renting space to the Dominion Society. They called on elected officials to denounce the group and commit to policies that do not contribute to scapegoating immigrants and racialized communities.
HARRC also published a guide to assist venues in avoiding unintentionally renting space to hate-promoting groups. Recent instances were cited where extremist groups like Diagolon and Second Sons secured spaces in community halls and gyms, with the owners unaware of the groups’ true intentions.
The Dominion Society of Canada, identified as a nationalist group, propagates the great replacement conspiracy theory, claiming that white people are being replaced by racialized individuals. The group advocates for mass deportations, including temporary foreign workers, permanent residents, and even Canadian-born individuals without Canadian citizenship. Barbara Perry, from the Centre on Hate, Bias, and Extremism at Ontario Tech University, criticized Dominion Society’s arguments as inherently racist and xenophobic.
Horwath referenced the Canadian Anti-Hate Network’s classification of Dominion Society as part of a growing white-nationalist movement in Canada. Dominion Society defended itself, stating it is an advocacy group focused on Canadian heritage and immigration reform, not a hate group.
The mayor’s office declined to disclose the number of businesses that received the letter from Horwath. However, it was confirmed that the city will not rent or make its facilities available to the Dominion Society, with bylaw staff monitoring related event materials on public property.
Hamilton police are developing a plan to address any risks, disruptions, or criminal activities linked to DomCon 2026. They acknowledge community concerns over the event’s promotion potentially inciting fear and uncertainty, particularly among those targeted by hateful rhetoric. The police encourage reporting of threats, harassment, or hate-motivated behaviors, with HARRC providing a community tool for reporting hate incidents.