By Barry Ellsworth
TRENTON, Canada (AA) - Opposition parties called for the resignation Tuesday of the Speaker of the House after he invited a former Nazi veteran to a session of Canadian lawmakers and hailed him as a “Ukrainian hero” and “Canadian hero,” according to media reports.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident “deeply embarrassing,” after former Ukrainian veteran Yaroslav Hunka, 98, was introduced and received a standing ovation witnessed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who was there to address the Canadian parliament on Friday.
Speaker Anthony Rota apologized and said he did not realize Hunka, a resident of Ontario, was a Nazi. But opposition parties said that is not enough and that Rota should resign.
Rota was to meet with government leaders Tuesday to discuss the gaff, CTV News reported.
Trudeau addressed the issue but did not echo the calls for Rota to step down.
“It's extremely upsetting that this happened. The Speaker has acknowledged his mistake and has apologized,” Trudeau told reporters Tuesday on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. “But this is something that is deeply embarrassing to the Parliament of Canada and by extension to all Canadians.”
To make matters worse, Trudeau said the Russians may use the blunder for propaganda purposes as Russian President Vladimir Putin used ridding Ukraine of Nazis as an excuse for his “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Rota apologized to MPs on Monday and expressed regrets.
“I am deeply sorry I offended many with my gesture and remarks,” he said. “This initiative was entirely my own. I want to really tell you that the intention was not to embarrass this House.”