Close X
Thursday, November 14, 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

Vancouver fire service cites butane torch lighters as fire incidents hit record high

Vancouver fire service cites butane torch lighters as fire incidents hit record high
The fire service says in a statement that the leading cause of fires remains discarded smoking materials including matches, lighters, candles, cigarettes, and drug paraphernalia, causing nearly 60 per cent of all incidents. The fire service says it's also worried about more fires occurring in single-room occupancy buildings, as well as a notable spike in outdoor fires. 

Vancouver fire service cites butane torch lighters as fire incidents hit record high

Minister launches review of B.C. port strike case to uncover 'structural issues'

Minister launches review of B.C. port strike case to uncover 'structural issues'
Federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan is launching an examination of the recently resolved British Columbia port dispute to see if "structural issues" in negotiations led to a 13-day work stoppage. In a written statement released through social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, O'Regan says officials will immediately begin by reviewing reports on previous, similar disputes.

Minister launches review of B.C. port strike case to uncover 'structural issues'

Firefighter Zak Muise's family grateful for support before Penticton, B.C., memorial

Firefighter Zak Muise's family grateful for support before Penticton, B.C., memorial
The memorial service and a procession are being held today in Penticton home base of the firefighting contractor that Muise worked for. RCMP say Muise, 25, from Waterford, Ont., died on July 28 when his heavy-duty ATV rolled over a steep drop on a gravel road in a remote area about 150 kilometres north of Fort St. John.

Firefighter Zak Muise's family grateful for support before Penticton, B.C., memorial

Police using social media accounts as Meta begins blocking news for Canadians

Police using social media accounts as Meta begins blocking news for Canadians
Saskatchewan RCMP say Meta's decision to remove news links from Facebook and Instagram will affect the way they relay information.  In the coming weeks, police forces won't be able to count on local news popping up in people's social media feeds as they scroll.

Police using social media accounts as Meta begins blocking news for Canadians

Banff Gondola guest says company didn't appear to have a plan when it broke down

Banff Gondola guest says company didn't appear to have a plan when it broke down
Pala Kovacs says she had finished taking photos of the couple, who had eloped in Banff that day, and they were planning to take the gondola back down when they heard it wasn't operating. Kovacs says she had her photography gear and the couple was in their wedding outfits, so they spent about 15 hours at the top until they could be helped off the mountain by helicopter the next morning.

Banff Gondola guest says company didn't appear to have a plan when it broke down

All evacuation orders lifted around Osoyoos as wildfire no longer spreading

All evacuation orders lifted around Osoyoos as wildfire no longer spreading
More than 130 properties in or around the southern Okanagan community have been evacuated since the fire jumped the border on July 29, but the orders have been eased as the BC Wildfire Service says the blaze is no longer likely to spread.  

All evacuation orders lifted around Osoyoos as wildfire no longer spreading