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Two years ago I booked a room at an AirBnB in Ottawa for a week and this guy was staying in another room at the house.
At first I didn’t know who he was and we chatted for a while where he started with some of his extreme views. He asked what I thought of the term “Nationalist” https://twitter.com/nationalpost/status/1362164261066321929
At first I didn’t know who he was and we chatted for a while where he started with some of his extreme views. He asked what I thought of the term “Nationalist” https://twitter.com/nationalpost/status/1362164261066321929
He then showed me his newly made “Canadian Nationalist Party” hat.
This guy was a real life nazi. What?!
I quickly realized had two choices.
I could condemn him on the spot, or I could bite my tongue and take a big hit of gravol to keep from being sick and “befriend” him.
This guy was a real life nazi. What?!
I quickly realized had two choices.
I could condemn him on the spot, or I could bite my tongue and take a big hit of gravol to keep from being sick and “befriend” him.
When he started talking more directly about his views and plans Patron and I were smoking a doobie.
He was relaxed and comfortable, and because of my understanding of politics and campaigns, I was able to engage and absorb.
He was relaxed and comfortable, and because of my understanding of politics and campaigns, I was able to engage and absorb.
He wanted to hang people for treason for defacing statues of John A MacDonald.
Once he had a shot of Jack Daniels, he was talking about jumping the fence of Rideau Hall and poisoning the PM.
I called the RCMP as soon as I checked out.
Glad something is finally happening.
Once he had a shot of Jack Daniels, he was talking about jumping the fence of Rideau Hall and poisoning the PM.
I called the RCMP as soon as I checked out.
Glad something is finally happening.
One of the things that still strikes me to this day about that conversation was how confident he was in his cash flow.
If he wanted to host an event, all he had to do is say when and where. He wanted to run some sort of recruitment campaign, the money was in the account.
If he wanted to host an event, all he had to do is say when and where. He wanted to run some sort of recruitment campaign, the money was in the account.
Make no mistake, hate in Canada is well funded.
I took the opportunity to engage him on what his intended campaign activities looked like for the next year.
I mean considering general sentiment towards nazis in Canada, legit I was curious how that campaign is executed.
What do you do to grow and organize your audience?
How do you present yourself to overcome the negative outlook on nazism?
How do you win seats in parliament?
What do you do to grow and organize your audience?
How do you present yourself to overcome the negative outlook on nazism?
How do you win seats in parliament?
As explained by him, plan was to build his following by hosting major rallies in cities across Canada.
He’d promote them by various means in the days leading up to the event, and he expected big crowds.
He’d promote them by various means in the days leading up to the event, and he expected big crowds.
In terms of how he would present his message and how he would win seats...
Travis explained that he didn’t expect that the majority of Canadians to warm up to his message.
He didn’t need them to in order to reach his objective. He just needed enough people.
Travis explained that he didn’t expect that the majority of Canadians to warm up to his message.
He didn’t need them to in order to reach his objective. He just needed enough people.
Enough people for what? Well, violent revolution of course.
That kind of leads into how he planned on actually winning seats in Canada.
He didn’t.
Well, maybe two seats if possible.
That kind of leads into how he planned on actually winning seats in Canada.
He didn’t.
Well, maybe two seats if possible.
He hoped to place 4 strong candidates in the upcoming Federal election. 1 in the West (SK) 1 in ON, 1 in PQ, 1 Atlantic.
He wanted a National presence, but also wanted to focus efforts on ridings where he could build enough of a support base to get on the communities radar.
He wanted a National presence, but also wanted to focus efforts on ridings where he could build enough of a support base to get on the communities radar.
But he knew it was unlikely he would ever win a seat let alone be elected government so that was never his main objective.
His objective was a violent takeover of the country where the majority of our government is hung for treason.
His objective was a violent takeover of the country where the majority of our government is hung for treason.
I recall the struggles he was expressing at the time trying to meet the requirements to become a registered political party.
He had a list of people who were solidly willing to sign the form saying “I’m a nazi”, but it was one of those 1 step forward, 2 back type things.
He had a list of people who were solidly willing to sign the form saying “I’m a nazi”, but it was one of those 1 step forward, 2 back type things.
Go figure... it turns out that if you sign your name on a public document that says “I’m a nazi” that people start calling you a nazi.
(Good job @antihateca)
(Good job @antihateca)
He had a plan to get all of the names he needed but I guess there were timelines that all signatures needed to be within and there were a number of other logistical challenges he was facing to get registered.
Who knew an armed rebellion involved so much paperwork?
Who knew an armed rebellion involved so much paperwork?
One of the other challenges he was facing was the growing number of venues that would refuse to host his events.
He hosted one at the Belgium Club in Winnipeg and a board member that booked it obviously had to resign when the media learned the club held a nationalist rally.
He hosted one at the Belgium Club in Winnipeg and a board member that booked it obviously had to resign when the media learned the club held a nationalist rally.
The University of Toronto had prevented him from using their campus for a rally.
A couple of private venues out West had as well.
A couple of private venues out West had as well.
His plan was to adapt a strategy where he’d book at publicly owned venues and then push the case to host through human rights complaints.
I’m not sure if he did that.
I’m not sure if he did that.
He obviously had a very Western Canadian view of Canada and its history, which he was proud of.
But it surprised me for how proud he was, how little he knew of what happened before the Louis Riel Rebellion.
But it surprised me for how proud he was, how little he knew of what happened before the Louis Riel Rebellion.
