Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this was “clearly unacceptable.”
Ottawa:
Canada’s prime minister said Monday that singling out a Ukrainian veteran who allegedly fought for the Nazis during World War II for a standing ovation during a visit by Kiev’s leader was shameful and intolerable.
The Speaker of the Canadian Parliament, Anthony Rota, has apologized for the blunder.
He had paid tribute to Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old Ukrainian immigrant, during President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Canada on Friday, telling the House of Commons that Hunka had “fought for Ukrainian independence”.
It was later pointed out that Hunka served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, a Nazi military unit.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this was “clearly unacceptable.”
“This is something that is deeply embarrassing to the Parliament of Canada and by extension to all Canadians,” he told reporters.
A small faction linked to Trudeau’s Liberals called on Rota to resign, while key opposition Conservatives criticized the Trudeau government for failing to properly investigate Hunka, despite claims they had not been informed in advance that he was invited to the event.
A Jewish advocacy group called the incident “shocking” and “incredibly disturbing.”
Rota, a Liberal MP, apologized on Sunday, saying he “later became aware of more information” that made him “regret” his recognition of Hunka.
“This initiative was entirely my own initiative… Above all, I would like to offer my deepest apologies to the Jewish communities in Canada and around the world,” he said, repeating his comments in the House of Representatives on Monday.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
