Canada parliament’s commendation of a Ukrainian war veteran.
Canada’s House of Commons Speaker, Anthony Rota, has issued an apology for his earlier commendation of a 98-year-old Ukrainian man, Yaroslav Hunka, who served in a Nazi unit during World War Two. The applause and standing ovation Hunka received in parliament followed Mr. Rota’s description of him as a “hero” during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Canadian Jewish group, CIJA, expressed deep concern over the celebration of a veteran associated with a Nazi division involved in the genocide of Jews, emphasizing that such occurrences must be avoided in the future. This sentiment was echoed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was also present in parliament at the time.
It’s important to note that during World War II, while thousands of Ukrainians fought on the German side, millions more served in the Soviet Red Army.
In his statement, Mr. Rota acknowledged that he had learned more information since the incident on September 22nd, which led him to regret his earlier decision. He emphasized that no one, including fellow parliamentarians and the Ukrainian delegation, was aware of his intentions or remarks before he made them. Mr. Rota clarified that his actions were entirely his own initiative, as the individual in question came from his district and was brought to his attention.
The Speaker concluded his statement by extending his deepest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and worldwide, accepting full responsibility for his actions. CIJA expressed appreciation for the apology and emphasized the importance of thorough vetting procedures to prevent such unacceptable incidents from happening again
In response to the incident, Canada’s opposition Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, has called for Prime Minister Trudeau to apologize. However, Mr. Trudeau’s office, representing the Liberal party, clarified that the decision to invite Mr. Hunka had been made solely by the speaker’s office and that the subsequent apology from Speaker Rota was the appropriate response.
During the parliamentary event, Speaker Rota pointed to Mr. Hunka in the gallery, referring to him as “a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero,” and expressing gratitude for his service. This led to applause from those present in the building.
Dominique Arel, the chair of Ukrainian studies at the University of Ottawa, explained that the division Mr. Hunka was part of attracted numerous Ukrainian volunteers, with many hoping to contribute to achieving Ukrainian independence
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