Rota responds to controversial introduction in the House of Commons

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Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota apologizes for introducing a riding constituent in the House of Commons who fought with Nazi unit in the Second World War.

Published Sep 25, 2023  •  Last updated 2 hours ago  •  3 minute read

The Speaker of the House of Commons Anthony Rota shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. During Zelenskyy’s visit to Ottawa, MPs in the House of Commons honoured 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka, without knowledge he had fought for the Waffen-SS Galicia Division under the command of the Nazis. Hunka was invited by Rota, who introduced him. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Article content

The President of the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in North Bay says he has accepted Nipissing-Timiskaming MP and House Speaker Anthony Rota’s apology after the events in Ottawa on Friday.

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Howard Kizell told The North Bay Nugget, “MP Rota contacted me and apologized for what happened in the House of Commons and apologized to the North Bay congregation.  I accepted his apology.”

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This came after the Speaker of the House and Nipissing-Timiskaming MP invited 98-year-old North Bay resident Yaroslav Hunka to the House of Commons.

Hunka was invited by Speaker Rota, who introduced him as a war hero who fought for the First Ukrainian Division.

The First Ukrainian Division was also known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division or the SS 14th Waffen Division, a voluntary unite that was under the command of the Nazis.

Rota found himself under fire and calls for his resignation over various social media sites.

NDP House leader Peter Julian called for his resignation on Monday.

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Julian told the House that Rota’s was an “unforgivable” error that brought disrepute to the House of Commons.

“Unfortunately, I believe a sacred trust has been broken,” he told the Speaker. “It’s for that reason, for the good of the institution of the House of Commons, that I say sadly I don’t believe you can continue in this role. Regrettably, I must respectfully ask that you step aside.”

Hunka received a standing ovation in the House of Commons during the visit of Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Ottawa.

Rota was quoted as saying, “We have in the chamber today a Ukrainian Canadian veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians and continues to support the troops today at age of 98.”

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The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies issued a statement Sunday saying the division “was responsible for the mass murder of innocent civilians with a level of brutality and malice that is unimaginable.”

They and other organizations are demanding an apology from the government.

On Monday morning, government House leader Karina Gould said his decision to invite the man was “deeply embarrassing” and called on MPs to work together to strike the recognition from the record.

She said that as a Canadian of Jewish origin and a descendent of Holocaust survivors, she felt “particularly hurt” by the situation.

Gould repeatedly asserted on Monday that neither the government of Canada nor the Ukrainian delegation had any knowledge that the 98-year-old Hunka had been invited to attend an address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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But Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer is still placing the blame with the Prime Minister’s Office, saying the government had a responsibility to vet attendees of such a high-profile event for security reasons.

He noted a “straightforward Google search” would have shown the division in which Hunka served during the war.

“If that basic level of vetting is not done by the government, that raises serious concerns. What kind of message does that send to our allies all over the world?”

Late on Sunday afternoon a response was sent out from the Speaker’s office in Ottawa.

“On Friday, September 22nd, in my remarks following the address of the President on Ukraine, I recognized an individual in the gallery. I have subsequently become aware of more information which causes me to regret my decision to do so. I wish to make clear that no one, including fellow parliamentarians and Ukraine delegation, was aware of my intention or of my remarks before I delivered them. This initiative was entirely my own, the individual in question being from my riding and having been brought to my attention. I particularly want to extend my deepest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and around the world.  I accept full responsibilities for my actions.”

With files from The Canadian Press

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