Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this was “clearly unacceptable”
Ottawa:
Canada’s prime minister said Monday that it was shameful and unbearable that a Ukrainian veteran who allegedly fought for the Nazis in World War II was given a standing ovation during a visit by the Kiev leader.
The Speaker of the Canadian Parliament, Anthony Rota, apologized for the gaffe.
He had paid homage 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 “fought for Ukraine’s independence.”
It was later noted 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 Canadian Parliament and therefore to all Canadians,” he told reporters.
A small faction allied with Trudeau’s Liberals called for Rota’s resignation, while the main opposition Conservatives criticized the Trudeau government for failing to properly vet Hunka, despite claiming it had received no prior notice 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 and said he “later became aware of additional information” that caused him to “regret” his recognition of Hunka.
“This initiative was entirely my own… I would like to deeply apologize, particularly 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.)