Some opposition leaders are calling on House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota to step down after he invited a man who fought for the Nazis to attend a speech by the Ukrainian president, a move Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called 害羞草研究所渄eeply embarrassing害羞草研究所� for the nation.
Rota rose in the House of Commons on Monday and apologized for parliamentarians for inviting Yaroslav Hunka to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy害羞草研究所檚 address to Parliament last Friday and recognizing him as part of his own remarks.
But that wasn害羞草研究所檛 enough for the New Democrats and Bloc Qu茅b茅cois, who are calling for Rota害羞草研究所檚 resignation. Both opposition parties said he has lost the confidence of the House.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 an unforgiveable error which puts the entire House in disrepute, and I believe a sacred trust has been broken,害羞草研究所� NDP House leader Peter Julian said in the House of Commons after calling for his resignation.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 for that reason, for the good of the institution of the House of Commons, that I say sadly I don害羞草研究所檛 believe you can continue in this role,害羞草研究所� he said, addressing the Speaker.
害羞草研究所淩egrettably, I must respectfully ask that you step aside.害羞草研究所�
The Tories have so far stopped short of asking Rota to resign. They want Trudeau to take responsibility instead.
Rota released a written apology on Sunday and repeated it in the House Monday morning. He said he alone was responsible for inviting and recognizing Yaroslav Hunka, who fought for the First Ukrainian Division during the Second World War.
害羞草研究所淚 am deeply sorry that I have offended many with my gesture and remarks,害羞草研究所� said Rota, who oversaw an impromptu debate Monday in the House of Commons over his actions.
害羞草研究所淣o one 害羞草研究所� not even anyone among you, fellow parliamentarians, or from the Ukrainian delegation 害羞草研究所� was privy to my intention or my remarks prior to their delivery.害羞草研究所�
Rota害羞草研究所檚 recognition of Hunka was met Friday with a standing ovation from MPs 害羞草研究所� twice.
害羞草研究所淭he Speaker has acknowledged his mistake and has apologized, but this is something that is deeply embarrassing to the Parliament of Canada, and by extension to all Canadians,害羞草研究所� Trudeau told reporters Monday.
Government House leader Karina Gould moved a motion Monday seeking unanimous consent to have Hunka害羞草研究所檚 recognition struck from the record.
It was denied.
Conservative MP Marty Morantz said deleting the text would only have one purpose: to forget what happened and wash the record clean.
害羞草研究所淚t goes without saying those that don害羞草研究所檛 learn from history are doomed to repeat it,害羞草研究所� Morantz said, borrowing a quote from writer and philosopher George Santayana, who is believed to have said it first.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre attempted to pass his own motion on Monday, asking the House to condemn the invitation and the prime minister.
It was defeated, too.
The Conservatives believe the blame should lay solely with the Prime Minister害羞草研究所檚 Office, saying the government had a responsibility to vet attendees of such a high-profile event for security reasons.
But Liberals accused the Conservatives of politicizing the issue and spreading false claims, such as that Trudeau personally met with Hunka during a reception, and that the prime minister害羞草研究所檚 office vetted the Speaker害羞草研究所檚 guest list.
In the House, Rota reaffirmed the Prime Minister害羞草研究所檚 Office害羞草研究所檚 initial statement 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 Zelenskyy.
Still, Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer said the government has a responsibility to vet attendees of such a high-profile event for security reasons. He noted a 害羞草研究所渟traightforward Google search害羞草研究所� would have shown the division in which Hunka served during the war.
害羞草研究所淚f 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?害羞草研究所�
The invite has since drawn international criticism from Russia and Poland, as MPs caution each other not to allow such messages to feed into propaganda against Ukraine.
The Bloc Qu茅b茅cois deputy leader, Alain Therrien, accused Russia of using this debacle to further harm Ukraine amid its ongoing assault on the country.
Trudeau asked Canadian害羞草研究所檚 to push back against Russian propaganda and disinformation 害羞草研究所渁nd continue our steadfast and unequivocal support for Ukraine.害羞草研究所�
Zelenskyy was in Ottawa on Friday as part of visits to North America intended to bolster support from Western allies for Ukraine害羞草研究所檚 fight against the Russian invasion.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has painted his enemies in Ukraine as 害羞草研究所渘eo-Nazis.害羞草研究所� Zelenskyy himself is Jewish and lost relatives in the Holocaust.
Gould said as a Canadian of Jewish origin and also a descendent of Holocaust survivors, she felt 害羞草研究所減articularly hurt害羞草研究所� by the situation.
害羞草研究所淚 think in light of the events of recent days, and the decisions that the Speaker has made, he needs to personally reflect about whether or not he can maintain the confidence of the House,害羞草研究所� Gould told reporters Monday following Rota害羞草研究所檚 apology.
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