Live UpdateFrom the Liveblog of Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Canada government calls on House speaker to quit over invite to man who fought for Nazis

By AP 26 September 2023, 6:38 pm 0 Edit

Yaroslav Hunka, right, waits for the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the House of Commons in Ottawa, Onatario, September 22, 2023. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government urges the speaker of the House of Commons to resign for inviting a man who fought for a Nazi military unit during World War II to attend a speech by the Ukrainian president.

Just after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered an address in the House of Commons on Friday, Canadian lawmakers gave 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka a standing ovation when Speaker Anthony Rota drew attention to him. Rota introduced Hunka as a war hero who fought for the First Ukrainian Division.

Rota is meeting with the House of Commons’ party leaders later today. Two opposition parties called for Rota to step down on Monday, and government House leader Karina Gould says that she believes lawmakers have lost confidence in Rota.

Gould says Rota invited and recognized Hunka without informing the government or the delegation from Ukraine.

“It is time for him to do the honorable thing,” Gould said.

Foreign Minister Melanie Joly also urges him to resign.

“It is completely unacceptable. It was an embarrassment to the House and Canadians, and I think the speaker should listen to members and step down,” Joly says.