Canada’s House speaker apologizes after Parliament gave standing ovation to Nazi veteran

September 25, 2023 11:44 AM

Canada’s speaker of the House of Commons has issued an apology after the country’s Parliament gave a standing ovation to a World War II veteran who served in a Nazi unit, sparking controversy online.

The veteran, Yaroslav Hunka, had been described as a “Ukrainian hero” by Speaker Anthony Rota before the Canadian Parliament on Friday. However, after additional information was provided about Hunka’s history, Rota apologized for the applause given to Hunka by the Parliament, calling the initiative “entirely my own” and wishing his “deepest apologies” to Jewish communities.

REPUBLICANS SMELL A RAT IN BIDEN’S PLAN TO AID UKRAINE

“I have subsequently become aware of more information which causes me to regret my decision,” Rota said.

Canada Ukraine Apology — Yaroslav Hunka, right, waits for the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the House of Commons in Ottawa, Ontario, on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. The speaker of Canada’s House of Commons apologized Sunday, Sept. 24, for recognizing Hunka, who fought for a Nazi military unit during World War II. Just after Zelensky delivered an address in the House of Commons on Friday, Canadian lawmakers gave the 98-year-old a standing ovation when Speaker Anthony Rota drew attention to him.

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Canadian-based Jewish human rights group, released details about Hunka on Sunday afternoon, stating that the 98-year-old veteran had served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the Schutzstaffel. The group described it as “shocking” that Canada’s Parliament would applaud Hunka for his time of service and that he was invited to the Parliament to begin with.

“At a time of rising antisemitism and Holocaust distortion, it is incredibly disturbing to see Canada’s Parliament rise to applaud an individual who was a member of a unit in the Waffen-SS, a Nazi military branch responsible for the murder of Jews and others and that was declared a criminal organization during the Nuremberg Trials,” read a statement from the group. “There should be no confusion that this unit was responsible for the mass murder of innocent civilians with a level of brutality and malice that is unimaginable.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

In addition to asking for an apology, the group also asked for an explanation on how Hunka “entered the hallowed halls of Canadian Parliament and received recognition from the Speaker of the House and a standing ovation.”

Justin Trudeau, Volodymyr Zelensky — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recognize Yaroslav Hunka, who was in attendance and fought with the First Ukrainian Division in World War II before later immigrating to Canada, in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.

Hunka’s visit to the Canadian Parliament took place during a visit that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to the country. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that the visit showed Canada’s “unwavering” support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.