Members of the Canadian parliament have agreed to a proposal by Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet to condemn Nazism in all its forms and express solidarity with its victims amid a scandal involving former SS officer Yaroslav Hunka, media reported.
Canadian lawmakers have decided to condemn Hunka's invitation to the parliament and "recall" the honors rendered to him, media reported.
Canadian lawmakers have decided to condemn Hunka's invitation to the parliament and "recall" the honors rendered to him, media reported.
Last week, Hunka, a 98-year-old Ukrainian Nazi veteran who fought in the ranks of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the Nazi SS during the Second World War, received a standing ovation from the entire Canadian legislature. Hunka's recognition came as House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota gave introductory remarks prior to Ukrainian President Zelensky's address to the Canadian parliament.
On Tuesday, Rota announced that he would be stepping down from his position in the wake of the Hunka scandal.
Against this backdrop, Canadian Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the Trudeau government for honoring Ukrainian Nazi veteran.
“Has there ever been a greater diplomatic embarrassment in the history of our country?” he questioned, “I mean it is literally in coffee shops and gyms and businesses and boardrooms around the world, people are reading about this massive and shameful disgrace that unfolded under the watch of a Liberal speaker and a Liberal Prime Minister, and yet he can’t even show up for work,” Poilevre said.