In a development to the controversy of honouring a Nazi veteran in the Canadian Parliament during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys visit last week, the speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, Anthony Rota resigned on Wednesday. Rota was the one who took the initiative to introduce the veteran soldier in the parliament on September 22 and said that this was a mistake entirely on his part.According to media reports, Rota announced his resignation on Tuesday in the House of Commons on Tuesday afternoon and said that the resignation would take effect at the end of business day Wednesday.“I must step down as your Speaker,” he said. “I reiterate my profound regret”Canada: Anthony Rota resigns as House Speaker after uproar over tribute to Nazi veteranRead @ANI Story | https://t.co/OwAUWUjY2b#Canada #AnthonyRota pic.twitter.com/Ku5DOiW1cl— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) September 26, 2023 Background of honouring Nazi veteranDuring the visit of Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky to the Canadian parliament last week, Anthony Rota hailed an elderly Ukrainian immigrant from his district as a hero, prompting a standing ovation on September 22.The 98-year-old Ukrainian Yaroslav Hunka, who served in the first Ukrainian division, also known as the SS division “Galicia” during World War II was honoured by the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, Anthony Rota in Canada Parliament at the event.Following this Senior Liberals, the NDP, the Bloc Quebecois, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, all of them criticised Rota and demanded his resignation.After facing criticism, Rota apologized twice — first on Sunday when Hunkas background emerged — and then again on Monday. He said that he had no knowledge of his history, and expressed regret for his decision.Despite apologising twice the senior speaker of the House of Commons was not sparred and the opposition continued to press for his resignation and said that “it wasnt enough”Politicians react to this fiascoBurnaby MP Peter Julian on Monday also said that this incident has broken the sacred trust and believes Rota in not fit to continue this role, media reports suggest.Earlier, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had also called the incident “deeply embarrassing.” “Its extremely upsetting that this happened. The 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,” Trudeau said at a news briefing.The Kremlin government also spoke on this issue and called it “outrageous”. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that this incident brings light to the carelessness in regard to historical truth and that the memory of the Nazi crimes must be preserved properly.“Such sloppiness of memory is outrageous,” Peskov told reporters. “Many Western countries, including Canada, have raised a young generation that does not know who fought whom or what happened during the Second World War. And they know nothing about the threat of fascism.”
