SASKATOON – A man who calls himself the “raging dissident” was arrested in Nova Scotia and brought to Saskatchewan to appear in Saskatoon Provincial Court Monday.
Jeremy MacKenzie, 36, was arrested in Cole Harbour by the Nova Scotia RCMP and transported to Saskatoon. His matter was adjourned to Friday for a show cause hearing.
MacKenzie was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant since July on charges stemming from an alleged incident in November 2021. Saskatoon RCMP says that they received a report of an assault in the R.M. of Viscount in March. In July, police charged MacKenzie with assault, pointing a firearm, using a restricted weapon in a careless manner, and mischief.
In March, he was charged with harassment and intimidation in connection with a protest outside of the home of Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health.
Previously, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre asked the RCMP to investigate MacKenzie after he talked about sexually assaulting Poilievre's wife during a live-streamed video.
MacKenzie, who is a podcaster, founded the online group Diagolon. On social media, he describes himself as “unacceptable and extreme alt-right,” a sit-down comedian, and anti-government. He also says he is a former Stormtrooper with the Canadian Armed Forces.
A recent House of Commons report labeled Diagolon as an ideologically motivated extremist group. The report states that the group consists of former Canadian Forces members who have real combat training and capabilities, and have "grown increasingly radicalized.”
The charges against MacKenzie haven’t been tested in court.
Clarification: Jeremy MacKenzie was charged in July 2022 for an incident in November 2021.
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