Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, is being criticized for the response he gave to journalists about the tribute they paid to a Nazi Party soldier in the Canadian House of Representatives.
Last Friday, the Canadian Parliament invited Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old veteran who fought against the Russians in World War II, and presented him as a “hero” during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit.
Trudeau along with members of the House applauded the man who was part of the First Ukrainian Division, a unit commanded by the Nazis that was known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division or the 14th Waffen SS Division.
WATCH: The Liberals tried to wipe this video from Parliament's record after all 338 MPs applauded a former Nazi SS officer.
Speaker Anthony Rota, who said he invited him, called him a "hero" who "fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians."https://t.co/q3IGy1ji2V pic.twitter.com/re09CQhijf
— Rebel News Canada (@RebelNews_CA) September 25, 2023
After this came to light, the Speaker of the House, Anthony Rota, apologized for what he called an oversight, and although some expected the prime minister to do the same, this Monday, when questioned by journalists, Trudeau did not give the message that many expected.
"I just want to make it clear that it was my decision, and my decision alone": Speaker Anthony Rota apologizes for inviting a former Nazi to Parliament.
"This was a constituent who wanted to be here, and I recognized him. It was my decision," he says.https://t.co/y2mmgWqxBl pic.twitter.com/tFUJHS74Qu— Rebel News Canada (@RebelNews_CA) September 25, 2023
The prime minister admitted it was "extremely upsetting that this happened" and blamed Rota for the "mistake." However, shortly afterward he preferred to focus on talking about “Russian disinformation,” according to The Daily Wire.
"The speaker has acknowledged his mistake and has apologized. This is something that is deeply embarrassing to the Parliament of Canada and by extension to all Canadians, I think particularly of Jewish MPs and all members of the Jewish community across the country,” he said.
"I think it’s going to be really important that all of us push back against Russian disinformation and continue our steadfast and unequivocal support for Ukraine as we did last week with announcing further measures to stand with Ukraine in Russia’s illegal war against it," he added.
Trudeau "never takes responsibility"
Shortly after the statements, the leader of the opposition, Pierre Poilievre, was dissatisfied with his political rival's response and accused him of not taking responsibility for "things that happen under his watch."
“Canadians are sick and tired of a prime minister who never takes responsibility for things that happen on his watch, whether it’s the record high inflation or interest rates or the doubling of housing costs or the constant international embarrassments, he always finds someone else to throw under the bus," he said.
Poilievre hammers Trudeau for shirking responsibility and skipping question period following a Nazi SS member being celebrated in Parliament. https://t.co/y2mmgWqxBl pic.twitter.com/DdqFvh0Uvm
— Rebel News Canada (@RebelNews_CA) September 25, 2023
Other politicians also expressed their concern that Rota was held solely responsible for the "mistake" committed.
Conservative MP Chris Warkentin casts doubt on the claim that Speaker Anthony Rota was solely responsible for inviting a Nazi soldier to Parliament.
Warkentin says the Trudeau government is also to blame. pic.twitter.com/xgImIaM4Cu
— True North (@TrueNorthCentre) September 25, 2023
