WARMINGTON: A Nazi being cheered in the House of Commons a dark day

A full apology is warranted for celebrating a Second World War Nazi in the House of Commons.

And that is what is expected to come from the Speaker of the House of Commons.

Either way, last Friday may go down in history as one of the worst blunders in the history of the House of Commons.

That was the day, according to Canadian Jewish groups, that a former soldier who fought with a Ukrainian military branch of Adolph Hitler’s Nazi party not only was introduced in a session of Canada’s Parliament during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but received a standing ovation from MPs.

“We have here in chamber today, a Ukrainian Canadian veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians and continues to support the troops today even at his age of 98,” said Speaker of the House Anthony Rota.

Everybody in the commons rose to their feet in applause as Rota spoke.

“ His name is Jaroslav Hunka, I am very proud to say he is from North Bay and my riding of Nipissing—Timiskaming. He is a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero and we thank him for all his service.”

Historians were confused by how a person could be fighting against the Russians when the then-Soviet army was aligned with the Allied forces, including Canada, against Hitler’s Germany which had occupied Ukraine. They quickly learned that Hunka had served with the First Ukrainian Division during the war and came to Canada after that.

That division was also known as the 14 th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS — referred to as the SS Galichina — and considered part of the Germany’s Nazi war machine.

“We understand an apology is forthcoming. We expect a meaningful apology. Parliament owes an apology to all Canadians for this outrage, and a detailed explanation as to how this could possibly have taken place at the centre of Canadian democracy,” said B’Nai Brith Canada CEO Michael Mostyn.

It’s as ugly as ugly can get.

  “ We find the reports of this individual’s history very troubling,” added Sebastian Skamski, spokesperson for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. “ You’d need to ask the Liberal government why he was invited and honoured?”

Word from the PMO is the man was brought there for the Zelenskyy event by Rota, and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his officials played no role in issuing the invitation. However, Trudeau will address the controversy when it comes up in the House of Commons.

But no matter who issued the invitation, the damage is done.

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“We are deeply troubled and disturbed that a Ukrainian veteran of the infamous 14 th Waffen Grenadier Division of the Nazi SS – which actively participated in the genocide of Jews – was celebrated with a standing ovation in the Canadian Parliament,” the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) said in a posting on X.

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre added it was “deeply disturbed (by) the Canadian Parliament’s recognition of a Ukrainian veteran who served in a Nazi military unit during the Second World War implicated in the mass murder of Jews and others” and “outraged that parliamentarians in the House of Commons gave a standing ovation to the former soldier.”

They also said, “an apology is owed to every Holocaust survivor and veteran of the Second World War who fought the Nazis, and an explanation must be provided as to how this individual entered the hallowed halls of Canadian Parliament and received recognition from the Speaker of the House and a standing ovation.”

There is no question an apology is necessary.

The fallout from this has been reported around the world, including in Russia, where it is being used to show how Nazi’s are being supported by Canada, which has provided arms to Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

In addition to everything else is the shocking lack of understanding about history inside Canada’s political leadership. That this could happen has shaken the confidence people have in the competence of the Liberal government, the House’s elected speaker and the opposition, too, as they were all on their feet clapping.

This will be a mistake not soon forgotten.