Liberal House Leader Karina Gould attempted to win a unanimous vote on September 25 to remove the House speaker’s comments from the House of Commons appendix. The speaker had made comments regarding a former soldier who fought for the Nazis, which sparked outrage. Conservative MP Marty Morantz expressed his disappointment, stating that the incident was shameful and a painful reminder of the importance of learning from history, especially for Holocaust survivors.
The controversy arose when a former member of the Waffen SS, a Nazi division known for war crimes during World War II, received a standing ovation from all MPs present during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Parliament on September 22. House Speaker Anthony Rota referred to the man, Yaroslav Hunka, as a “Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero.” However, Rota later apologized and extended his deepest apologies to Jewish communities worldwide.
Yaroslav Hunka fought with the First Ukrainian Division, which was another name for the 4th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS. This division was declared a criminal organization by the International Military Tribunal following the war for its involvement in mass atrocities. Karina Gould, who is Jewish, requested unanimous consent to strike Mr. Rota’s recognition of Mr. Hunka from the appendix, but faced opposition from some Conservatives who believed the incident should not be erased from the record.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre blamed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the incident, arguing that it was the responsibility of the Prime Minister’s Office and the RCMP to vet individuals in close proximity to foreign leaders. However, Gould emphasized that Rota alone was responsible for inviting and honoring Hunka, urging the Conservatives not to politicize the situation. New Democrat House Leader Peter Julian called for Rota’s resignation, stating that a sacred trust had been broken.
Prime Minister Trudeau expressed his deep embarrassment and disappointment over the incident, stating that it was upsetting that such an occurrence took place in the Parliament of Canada.