Canada's House speaker resigns after honoring man who fought for Nazis during Zelenskyy visit

The speaker of Canada's House of Commons resigned Tuesday for inviting a man who fought for a Nazi military unit during World War II to Parliament to attend a speech by the Ukrainian president.

Just after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an address in the House of Commons on Friday, Canadian lawmakers gave 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka a standing ovation when Speaker Anthony Rota drew attention to him. Rota introduced Hunka as a war hero who fought for the First Ukrainian Division.

Observers over the weekend began to publicize 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.

"On Friday, in my remarks following the address by the President of Ukraine, I recognized an individual in the gallery. My intention was to show that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is not a new one — that Ukrainians have unfortunately been subject to foreign aggression for far too long and that this must end," Rota said in Parliament. "I have subsequently become aware of more information which causes me to regret my decision to recognize this individual."

"No one in this House is above any of us. Therefore I must step down as your speaker," Rota added.

"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," he added.

Rota stepped down after meeting with the House of Commons' party leaders later Tuesday. All main opposition parties called for 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," Government Liberal House leader 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.

New Democratic Party MP Peter Julian, the party's House leader, welcomed Rota's decision to leave, CBC reported. "Imagine the Jewish community sitting down to Yom Kippur and having somebody that is affiliated with the SS and the horrific murders taking place in Eastern Europe being honored in the House of Commons," Julian said.

The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies said in a statement that the incident "has left a stain on our country's venerable legislature with profound implications both in Canada and globally."

"This incident has compromised all 338 Members of Parliament and has also handed a propaganda victory to Russia, distracting from what was a momentously significant display of unity between Canada and Ukraine," the center said.

It was with a heavy heart that I informed the House of Commons of my resignation as Speaker. It has been my greatest honour as a parliamentarian to serve as Speaker in the 43rd and 44th Parliaments. Read my statement here: https://t.co/rPs3ujmDVI

— Speaker of the HoC (@HoCSpeaker) September 26, 2023

In an earlier apology on Sunday, Rota said he alone was responsible for inviting and recognizing Hunka, who is from the district that Rota represents. The speaker's office said Monday it was Rota's son who contacted Hunka's local office to see if it was possible if he could attend Zelenskyy's speech.

Members of Parliament from all parties rose to applaud Hunka unaware of the details of who he was.

The prime minister's office said it was unaware that Hunka was invited until after the address. The speaker's office also confirmed it did not share its invite list with any other party or group. The vetting process for visitors to the gallery is for physical security threats, not reputational threats, the speaker's office said.

In Moscow, a Kremlin spokesman said it was "outrageous" that Hunka received a standing ovation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has painted his enemies in Ukraine as "neo-Nazis," although Zelenskyy is Jewish and lost relatives in the Holocaust.

Przemyslaw Czarnek, Poland's Minister of Education and Science, wrote on social media Tuesday that he had taken steps toward the possible extradition of Hunka to Poland.

In:
• War
• Politics
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy
• Canada