Liberal MP and House Speaker Anthony Rota apologized for honouring a Nazi veteran in the House of Commons on Friday but did not resign for what he said was his “initiative.”  

On Friday, all members of parliament gave 98-year-old Ukrainian veteran Yaroslav Hunka a standing ovation, without realizing that Hunka fought for Adolf Hitler in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the Nazi SS during World War II.  

Hunka was in attendance in the House of Commons on Friday, as was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while Rota recognized Hunka as a “Ukrainian hero” and “Canadian hero,” and thanked him for his service.

After news broke that Hunka was a Nazi veteran, Rota said on Sunday that he takes full responsibility for the initiative, as he repeated on Monday in a written statement. 

“I wish to apologize to the House and I am deeply sorry that I have offended many with my gestures and remarks,” Rota said.

“I would also like to add that this initiative was entirely my own. The individual in question being from my riding, and having been brought to my attention. No one including you my fellow Parliamentarians or the Ukraine delegation was privy to my remarks prior to their delivery.”

Who invited him?

Curiously, Rota didn’t say he invited Hunka to the House of Commons, instead saying it was his initiative to deliver remarks regarding Hunka before members of Parliament and President Zelenskyy.

Several Liberal MPs have said that Rota invited Hunka, including Liberal MP Karina Gould, who had her photo taken with him.

The Bloq Quebecois Party and the New Democrat Party called for Rota to resign on Monday.

The Conservative Party has not called on Rota to resign. Instead, they cast doubt that Rota is solely to blame for Hunka getting invited to the House as an honourary guest.

Last year, The Counter Signal founder Keean Bexte was offered thousands of dollars of dark money to push pro-Ukrainian propaganda across his massive Twitter following.