Canadian Nationalist Party leader charged with willful promotion of hate

The leader of a federal party is being charged with promoting hatred towards a group after an alleged anti-Semitic video was posted to YouTube in 2019.

Police were alerted to the video, called “Beware the Parasitic Tribe,” by the Canadian Anti-Hate Network in June 2019. The video featured the now 29-year-old Redvers man, Travis Patron, who police say is “the self-proclaimed leader of the Canadian Nationalist Party.”

Patron ran for the Souris-Moose Mountain seat in the 2019 federal election.

Carlyle RCMP launched an investigation with the assistance of the Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes Unit, the Saskatchewan RCMP National Security Section and the British Columbia RCMP Hate Crimes Unit. All evidence gathered was then reviewed, and forwarded, to the Saskatchewan Attorney General— a requirement for the Willful Promotion of Hate charge.

Carlyle RCMP said they are aware of four additional reports of new alleged anti-Semitic videos and hate speech by the Redvers man from April to July 2020.

Police were given the order to arrest Patron on Feb. 15, he was taken into custody later that day.

Patron made his first court appearance in Weyburn on Feb. 16. His next appearance was set for Regina on Wednesday afternoon.

Patron is also currently on trial for an aggravated assault charge from 2019.