Author: Carmen Celestini

I had the opportunity to speak with Rachel Gilmore for an article in The Tyee on the leaders of the Dominion Society of Canada attending an international remigration forum last week. The Society is a metapolitical organization that is based on the idea that those who are not Irish, Scottish, French, or British (read white) are not true Canadians and should be forced out of Canada. Much like the Department of Remigration in the United States, and Donald Trump’s forced deportations, the Society wants that reality here.

I spoke with The Tyee this week about a web summit in BC, that included individuals like Lauren Southern. Southern is well known for her racist and anti-Islamic publications and social media platforms. She is now attempting a redemption arc, but is non-apologetic for her past, and the harm she has caused many. There can be no redemption while still profiting from hate, not apologizing or making amends, and while now using the same platforms to try and be “centrist.”

When Canadians look to the south, and watch the role of Christian nationalism being espoused from the political pulpit in America, we often think that we are immune. We are not. Christian nationalism has long been part of the political in Canada, but recently it has become less subtle and much louder from some political parties. Last week I spoke with Press Progress, about events in BC, as Christian values became a vocal part of the politics of the province.

Last week The National Post printed an article on the racist book The Camp of the Saints, as did The Washington Examiner. Neither piece was critical of the book, that was the inspiration for the Great Replacement conspiracy theory, in fact the Post piece suggested it was essential reading for the moment that Canada is in. We also saw a BC MLA use the term Blood and Soil while discussing Indigenous issues and rulings. The term was one that was used by Nazis and is often still used by white nationalists to support racist hate. What does this moment of mainstreaming hate mean for Canada? I spoke with Jen St. Denis at The Tyee about the intersection of acceptance of hate terms and books within mainstream discourse, and the implications. We must note that these validations are not coming from the dark corners of the internet but from a national legacy media

Yesterday, I was invited to be part of CBC Radio – Winnipeg‘s daily call in show to discuss conspiracy theories. Callers were asked what they believe in, or what changed their mind about a conventional norm. The discussion was interesting and it is always great to hear about people perceive conspiracies and the “truths.”

This morning I was live on CBC News Morning Live discussing the conspiracy theories associated with the attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.