The leader of the Canadian Nationalist Party has been charged by Saskatchewan RCMP for willful promotion of hate.

29-year-old Travis Patron of Redvers was arrested on Monday by Carlyle RCMP and charged for “willfully promoting hatred to an identifiable group” through a series of online videos.

Reports first came in to RCMP in June 2019 when the Carlyle detachment learned from the Canadian Anti-Hate Network about an alleged anti-Semitic YouTube video named “Beware the Parasitic Tribe.” Patron is featured in the video.

An investigation was launched in coordination with the Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes Unit, the Saskatchewan RCMP National Security Section and the British Columbia RCMP Hate Crimes Unit. Evidence gathered during the investigation was reviewed and sent to the Saskatchewan Attorney General, a required process for the charge of Willful Promotion of Hate under the Criminal Code of Canada.

Carlyle RCMP received four more reports of new alleged anti-Semitic videos and hate speech by Patron between April 2020 to July 2020. Those reports are still under investigation.

On Monday, police were given direction from the attorney general to arrest and charge Patron. He made his first court appearance on Tuesday in Weyburn Provincial Court via phone call. Patron will appear in court next on Wednesday afternoon in Regina.