Hamilton’s mayor has issued letters to local businesses, urging them to be vigilant about an anti-immigration organization promoting an upcoming conference in the region. Andrea Horwath emphasized the importance of venues having a clear understanding of the group and event’s purpose before agreeing to host it. The Dominion Society of Canada, which is behind the event titled DomCon 2026 on August 29, advocates for “remigration,” the deportation of immigrants to their home countries.
Horwath expressed her pride in leading a diverse city like Hamilton and highlighted the community’s values of inclusion, respect, and ensuring everyone feels a sense of belonging. Several Hamilton groups, including the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) and Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, joined forces to issue an open letter on August 4, urging businesses and institutions 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 targeting of immigrants and racialized communities.
HARRC also released a guide with tips to help venues avoid unintentionally renting to hate-promoting groups. The Dominion Society’s website promotes the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, claiming that white people are being replaced by racialized individuals. The organization advocates for mass deportations of various groups, including temporary foreign workers and permanent residents.
Barbara Perry, the director of the Centre on Hate, Bias, and Extremism at Ontario Tech University, criticized the Dominion Society’s arguments as inherently racist and xenophobic. Horwath pointed out that the Canadian Anti-Hate Network has identified the Dominion Society as part of a growing white-nationalist movement in Canada.
The mayor clarified that she is not asking venues to act against their policies but to be informed about the Dominion Society’s agenda when considering any bookings related to the organization. It remains unclear how many businesses received the mayor’s letter, but Horwath’s office confirmed that the city will not rent out facilities to the Dominion Society.
In response to the upcoming conference, Hamilton police are developing a plan to address any potential risks, disruptions, or criminal activities associated with DomCon 2026. They acknowledge the concerns within the community and assure a visible and appropriate presence to maintain law and order. The police encourage individuals facing threats or hate-motivated incidents to report them, with HARRC offering a community tool for reporting hate incidents as well.
