The speaker of Canada’s House of Commons, Anthony Rota, has resigned. He resigned amid the row over inviting a man who fought for a Nazi military unit during World War II to Parliament to attend a speech by the Ukrainian president Zelenskyy
Rota recently introduced 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka as a war hero who fought for the First Ukrainian Division during World War II. Meanwhile, members of Parliament from all parties were unaware of the fact that he was a member of a Nazi battalion that fought the Allied Forces and rose to applaud Hunka.
The Prime Minister’s office disclosed it was unaware that Hunka was invited until after the address. Also, the Speaker’s office confirmed it did not share its invite list with any other party or group. The Speaker’s office said the vetting process for visitors to the gallery is for physical security threats, not reputational threats.
Controversy emanated from the incident when just after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an address in the House of Commons, Canadian lawmakers gave 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka a standing ovation when Speaker Anthony Rota introduced him. He was introduced as a war hero who fought for the First Ukrainian Division.
Observers started publicizing the fact that the First Ukrainian Division also was known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division, or the SS 14th Waffen Division, a voluntary unit that was under the command of the Nazis.
In the parliament, Rota said: “No one in this House is above any of us. Therefore I must step down as your speaker. I reiterate my profound regret for my error in recognizing an individual in the House during the joint address to Parliament of President Zelenskyy.
“That public recognition has caused pain to individuals and communities, including to the Jewish community in Canada and around the world in addition to Nazi survivors in Poland among other nations. I accept full responsibility for my actions.”
Rota resigned after meeting with the House of Commons’ party leaders. All main opposition parties asked Rota to step down, and Government House leader Karina Gould said that lawmakers had lost confidence in Rota.
“This is something that has brought shame and embarrassment to all of Parliament and indeed all Canadians. The speaker did the honorable thing in resigning,” Karina Gould said.
Gould said she is of Jewish origin and a descendent of a Holocaust survivor. “This incident hurt me personally as it hurt all members of this House and all Canadians,” she said.
In an earlier apology tendered, Rota said he was solely responsible for inviting and recognizing Hunka, who is from the district that Rota represents. The speaker’s office said it was Rota’s son who contacted Hunka’s local office to check if it was possible if he could attend Zelenskyy’s speech.
SUPPORT NIGERIAN CANADIAN NEWSPAPER CANADA
If you like our work and want to keep enjoying what we offer, kindly support us by donating to the Nigerian Canadian News by clicking here
Share your thoughts in the comments section below
Do you want to share any news or information with us? If yes, contact the publisher at publisher@test1.nascitest.club
