Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

House Speaker Anthony Rota resigns over honouring man who fought for Nazis

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 26 Sep, 2023 12:39 PM
  • House Speaker Anthony Rota resigns over honouring man who fought for Nazis

House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota announced his resignation on Tuesday over having invited a man who fought for the Nazis to attend Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address to Parliament.

"This House is above any of us. Therefore, I must step down as your Speaker," Rota, who was first elected to the role in December 2019, told the House of Commons ahead of question period on Tuesday.

All sides had called for Rota to resign after he invited and recognized in the House a Ukraine military veteran now living in Canada who had served in a Nazi unit during the Second World War.

Government House leader Karina Gould said earlier Tuesday that members of Parliament had lost confidence in Rota, the Liberal MP for the northern Ontario riding of Nipissing-Timiskaming.

During his resignation speech, Rota reiterated his "profound regret" for recognizing 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka, a veteran of the First Ukrainian Division, last Friday in the House of Commons. Hunka lives in his riding.

The voluntary unit was under the command of the Nazis and was also known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division or the SS 14th Waffen Division during the Second World War. 

All members of Parliament who were in attendance had stood twice and applauded Hunka without knowing the details of his past, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and main opposition leaders.

Zelenskyy had also joined in the applause.

Many MPs, some of whom are Jewish, later expressed their disgust in participating in the ovation. 

"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," Rota said in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

Only two Speakers elected since Confederation have left partway through a parliamentary session, including one who died and another who was named governor general.

Rota has apologized in the House twice after issuing an initial apology over the weekend. He said he alone was responsible for the decision and that neither the Prime Minister's Office nor the Ukrainian delegation were aware. Still, MPs felt there was no other alternative than for him to step down. 

Rota, who as Speaker was tasked with remaining impartial and maintaining order in the House of Commons, has been facing an international uproar over the recognition of Hunka.

Russia has used the news to advance its propaganda in an attempt to legitimize its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  

Russian President Vladimir Putin paints his enemies in Ukraine as "neo-Nazis." 

The Holocaust, the Second World War and Nazism have been important tools for Putin in his bid to legitimize Russia's war in Ukraine, but historians see their use as disinformation and a cynical ploy to further the Russian leader’s aims.

Zelenskyy is Jewish and has said his great-grandparents were victims of the Nazis.

His visit to Canada was meant to shore up support for Ukraine during the war, but now the opposite is happening, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Tuesday. 

"The visit was marred by this incident that is now being used by the aggressor, Russia, in propaganda to attack or take away from — in a deleterious way — the efforts of the war."

Singh called on Trudeau to apologize for how things have unfolded, and present a plan to try and undo the harm.

The Conservatives have said Trudeau is throwing Rota under the bus and that the prime minister should take responsibility for the invitation.

Trudeau, who was in Toronto on Tuesday afternoon, was not present in the House of Commons when Rota announced his resignation.

Earlier Tuesday the prime minister, who called the mistake "deeply embarrassing," said he expected Rota was reflecting on how to maintain dignity in the Commons.

Rota's resignation came after he met with House leaders for the main federal parties. It is set to take effect at the end the sitting on Wednesday.

This will allow preparations for new a Speaker to be elected. Until that time, deputy speakers will chair House proceedings. 

One of those deputy speakers, Conservative MP Chris D'Entremont, immediately replaced Rota in the chair for question period.

A garden party the Speaker was set to host at the Farm, the official residence in Kingsmere, Que., on Tuesday evening was also cancelled.

MORE National ARTICLES

Homicide in New Westminster

Homicide in New Westminster
Homicide detectives have been called in to investigate after a man's body was found inside a home in New Westminster. Police say officers were sent to the home last night to carry out a well-being check.

Homicide in New Westminster

Hot spell add to wildfire woes

Hot spell add to wildfire woes
The wildfire service is reporting about 375 fires around B.C., with about 11 recorded since midday Sunday and another 11 still ranked as fires of note, meaning they are highly visible or threaten people or property.

Hot spell add to wildfire woes

Power outage for new B.C. ferry forces trip cancellations on first day

Power outage for new B.C. ferry forces trip cancellations on first day
The inaugural sailings for a passenger ferry between downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo, B.C., were cancelled Monday because of a power outage. A statement on the Hullo ferry website says the loss of power to the berth and vessels affected the assessments of its systems and the safety and reliability of its operations.

Power outage for new B.C. ferry forces trip cancellations on first day

As B.C. temperatures soar, advocates call for rules to keep rental housing cool

As B.C. temperatures soar, advocates call for rules to keep rental housing cool
The call comes as a heat wave blankets much of the province, raising memories of the deadly 2021 heat dome event. It isn't expected to get as hot this week, but the advocates say municipalities need to ensure that tenants don't face deadly risks of overheating in their homes.    

As B.C. temperatures soar, advocates call for rules to keep rental housing cool

Housing crisis deemed a political threat for Liberals

Housing crisis deemed a political threat for Liberals
Experts say the national housing crisis is becoming a political threat for the Liberal government, with voters likely to look elsewhere if drastic action isn't taken soon. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came under heat recently for saying the federal government wasn't primarily responsible for housing, though it can and will help with the crisis.

Housing crisis deemed a political threat for Liberals

Border officers at Edmonton airport find tarantulas in plastic container, toy plane

Border officers at Edmonton airport find tarantulas in plastic container, toy plane
The Canada Border Services Agency says officers discovered two live tarantulas hidden inside plastic containers at the Edmonton International Airport earlier this year.  In May, officers saw irregularities in a small package from Hong Kong and found a male tarantula hidden inside a plastic container.   

Border officers at Edmonton airport find tarantulas in plastic container, toy plane