MPs gave a standing ovation to a former member of the Waffen SS, a Nazi division accused of war crimes during World War II, during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Parliament in Ottawa on Sept. 22.
Speaker of the House Anthony Rota referred to Ukrainian-Canadian Yaroslav Hunka, who was present in the House of Commons, as a “veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians and continues to support the troops today, even at his age of 98.”
Following a 30-second applause by all MPs, Mr. Rota added that “he’s a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero, and we thank him for all his service.”
Mr. Rota apologized two days later, on Sept. 24, stating in a social media post that the decision to recognize Mr. Hunka “was entirely my own, the individual in question being from my riding and having been brought to my attention.”
“I have subsequently become aware of more information which causes me to regret my decision,” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.