He apologized. Anthony Rota, the speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, one of the two chambers of the Canadian parliament, declared on Sunday evening that he took “full responsibility” for his actions.
During a speech to the Ukrainian president and the Canadian prime minister on Friday, this Canadian elected official highlighted the presence of Yaroslav Hunka, 98, in the House of Commons. “We have today here in the Chamber [des Communes] a Ukrainian-Canadian veteran of the Second World War, who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians and who continues to support the truth today, even at the age of 98,” said Anthony Rota.
A man who comes from Anthony Rota’s riding
The parliamentarians then stood up to applaud the man. Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, and Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, joined in the applause. Anthony Rota continued his tribute by calling the veteran a “Ukrainian hero” and “Canadian hero.”
The parliamentarians’ applause was relayed on X (formerly Twitter), including among circles favorable to Russia. “The Canadian parliament acclaims the “veteran” Jaroslav Gunka, 98 years old, for having fought with the Nazis within the 14th Waffen SS division, during the Second World War,” commented Régis de Castelnau, a lawyer who had questioned the last year the reality of the Boutcha massacre.
At the time they applauded this man, Canadian elected officials most likely did not know his past. In his presentation, Anthony Rota does not specify that Yaroslav Hunka served with the SS, he simply indicates that the man comes from his constituency.
It was Jewish organizations which alerted on Sunday about the old man’s past, as reports the Quebec newspaper The Press. The organization Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center highlighted that Yaroslav Hunka fought in the 14th Grenadier Division of the Waffen SS, “a Nazi military unit whose crimes against humanity during the Holocaust are well documented,” the organization specifies.
Anthony Rota posted a message of apology Sunday: “I would particularly like to offer my most sincere apologies to the Jewish communities in Canada and around the world.” Neither the Canadian Prime Minister nor the Ukrainian President were aware of the presence of this man, according to Anthony Rota: “The initiative is entirely mine, the individual in question being from my constituency and having been brought to my attention “.
Justin Trudeau promised 650 million Canadian dollars (452 million euros) to Ukraine on Friday, while Volodymyr Zelensky was visiting Ottawa. This aid includes the supply of 50 armored vehicles and the training of Ukrainian pilots in F-16 fighter jets.