After the speaker of Canada’s House of Commons lower chamber Anthony Rota was criticised for publicly praising 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka, a former Nazi soldier, in Parliament during President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Canada visit, he has announced that he will quit. Hunka fought for a Nazi military unit during World War II.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the homage to Hunka “deeply embarrassing”, while Russia said the incident helped justify its war against Ukraine.
Canadian parliament speaker resigns
Rota earlier took full responsibility for his actions and apologised. However, now he has announced that he will quit. He told the legislators that he made a mistake by inviting Huna to attend a session in the House. Rota publicly recognised Hunka, calling him a hero.
Saying that the public recognition caused pain to people of the Jewish community in Canada and around the world, Rota said his resignation will take effect on Wednesday, September 27.
Foreign Minister Melanie Joly earlier said Rota should resign while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called on him to ponder his future.
The incident
The Canadian PM was also among those who applauded Hunka. The 98-year-old veteran of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS. Rota paid homage to Hunka, a Ukrainian immigrant, saying he had “fought for Ukrainian independence”.
Later, while apologising Rota cleared that the other parliament members and the Ukraine delegation were unaware of his plans to recognise Hunka, adding that Hunka is from his district.
(With Reuters input)