Speaker of the House of Commons Anthony Rota resigned on Tuesday following an outcry over his invitation of a World War II veteran, Yaroslav Hunka, to attend a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It was later revealed that Hunka had fought for the Nazi military unit known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division, causing outrage from members of the public and the Canadian government. Rota apologized for his “lapse in judgment” and resigned to “protect the dignity of the House of Commons”, sparking a debate in Canada over the proper way to recognize veterans of World War II and the need to ensure that those with Nazi ties are not honored.
Posts tagged as “Anthony Rota”
Canada's House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota has apologized after recognizing 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka, who had fought for a Nazi military unit during World War II, during a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Rota had called Hunka a “hero” and he was given a standing ovation by Canadian lawmakers. The incident has caused controversy in Canada, with Rota expressing regret for his decision and raising questions about how much research is done on those who are recognized in the House of Commons.