The speaker of Canada\u2019s House of Commons has apologised for praising an individual who served in a Nazi unit during World War II in a session attended by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaker Anthony Rota recognised Yaroslav Hunka, 98, as a \u201cUkrainian hero, a Canadian hero\u201d, saying \u201cwe thank him for all his service\u201d before the Canadian Parliament on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hunka served in World War II as a member of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, according to the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights group, that demanded an apology. The center said Hunka\u2019s ties to the Nazi war machine \u201care well-documented\u201d. Both Zelenskyy and Trudeau joined in acknowledging Hunka during the parliament session with applause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rota took responsibility for what he characterised as an oversight, calling the initiative \u201centirely my own.\u201d \u201cI have subsequently become aware of more information which causes me to regret my decision,\u201d he said in a statement issued on Sunday, offering his \u201cdeepest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recognition came following the visit to parliament by Zelenskyy, who thanked Canada for its assistance in Ukraine\u2019s war against Russia. Rota said no one, including fellow parliamentarians or the Ukrainian delegation, was aware of his plans or remarks beforehand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following Zelenskyy\u2019s remarks, Rota acknowledged Hunka \u2013 who was seated in the gallery \u2013 praising him for fighting for Ukrainian independence against the Russians. Hunka received two standing ovations from those gathered. As Canadian lawmakers cheered, Zelenskyy raised his fist in acknowledgement and Hunka saluted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt a time of rising anti-Semitism and Holocaust distortion, it is incredibly disturbing to see Canada\u2019s parliament rise to applaud an individual who was a member of a unit in the Waffen-SS \u2013 a Nazi military branch responsible for the murder of Jews and others,\u201d the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center said in a statement. \u201cAn explanation must be provided as to how this individual entered the hallowed halls of Canadian parliament and received recognition from the Speaker of the House and a standing ovation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russia\u2019s RIA state news agency cited Russia\u2019s ambassador to Canada, Oleg Stepanov, as saying the embassy will send a letter to Trudeau and a note to the Canadian foreign ministry on Monday. \u201cWe will, of course, demand clarification from the Canadian government,\u201d Stepanov was quoted as saying.INTERACTIVE-Ukraine’s counteroffensive under way<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dominique Arel, chair of Ukrainian studies at the University of Ottawa, said the incident \u201cis highly problematic.\u201d \u201cWe have the issue of symbolism here, the optics of serving in a military unit whose logo is that of arguably the greatest criminal organisation in the 20th century \u2026 so obviously the optics are not good,\u201d Arel told CBC News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
B\u2019nai Brith Canada\u2019s CEO Michael Mostyn said it was outrageous that parliament honoured a former member of a Nazi unit, saying Ukrainian \u201cultranationalist ideologues\u201d who volunteered for the Galicia Division \u201cdreamed of an ethnically homogenous Ukrainian state and endorsed the idea of ethnic cleansing\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe understand an apology is forthcoming. We expect a meaningful apology. Parliament owes an apology to all Canadians for this outrage, and a detailed explanation as to how this could possibly have taken place at the centre of Canadian democracy,\u201d Mostyn said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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