Canada: Canada’s Parliament Speaker Mr. Anthony Rota has resigned following a controversy over honouring a man who served in Nazi World War II. Mr. Rota invited Mr. Yaroslav Hunka and recognised the 98-year-old as a “Ukrainian hero” during Ukrainian President Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to a parliamentary session of the House of Commons.
The Canadian Speaker commented that he was resigning “with a heavy heart” while addressing lawmakers in Ottawa. “This House is above any of us. Therefore, I must step down as your speaker,” Mr. Rota added.
Mr. Hunka received standing ovations in the House of Commons, including from Mr. Zelenskyy and Canadian Prime Minister Mr. Justin Trudeau, who were in attendance.
“I reiterate my profound regret for my error in recognising an individual in the House,” Mr. Rota previously said in Parliament, as advocacy groups, Canadian lawmakers, and even top members of his own Liberal Party called for his resignation.
“That public recognition has caused pain to individuals and communities, including the Jewish community in Canada and around the world, in addition to survivors of Nazi atrocities in Poland, among other nations,” the Speaker noted.
Canadian legislators from all major parties had urged for Mr. Rota’s resignation. The Canadian Foreign Minister Ms. Melanie Joly commented that the episode was “an embarrassment to the House and to Canadians.” “And I think the speaker should listen to members of the House and step down,” Ms. Joly added.
The progressive New Democratic Party’s House leader, Mr. Peter Julian, stated that Mr. Rota had made “an unforgivable error that puts the entire House in disrepute.” Mr. Julian further told reporters that steps need to be taken “to ensure that this never happens again in a Canadian Parliament.”
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