Prime Minister Justin Trudeau formally addressed the Nazi celebration that took place in parliament five days after it happened, refusing to apologize for any personal wrongdoing or oversight, instead offering an apology from “parliament.”
Trudeau said the Liberal MP and Speaker of the House, Anthony Rota, was solely responsible for the invitation and recognition of the Nazi veteran.
While Trudeau refused to personally apologize, he offered “parliament’s unreserved apologies.”
Trudeau’s comments come after Liberal MP and House Speaker Anthony Rota resigned as Speaker of the House after mistakenly inviting and honouring the Nazi veteran, 98-year-old Ukrainian Yaroslav Hunka, in Canada’s House of Commons on Friday.
House Speaker Anthony Rota apologized on Sunday and again on Monday for what he said was strictly his “initiative.”
Trudeau says “Canada is sorry”
“This was a mistake that has deeply embarrassed parliament and Canada,” Trudeau said on Wednesday.
Trudeau added that all members of parliament stood and clapped for the Nazi veteran without knowing who he was.
“It was a horrendous violation of the memory of the millions of people who died in the holocaust, and it was deeply, deeply painful for Jewish people,” Trudeau said.
He added, “It also hurt Polish people, 2SLGBTQI+ people, disabled people, racialized people, and the many millions who were targeted by the Nazi genocide.”
Poilievre grills Trudeau
After Trudeau’s non-apology apology, opposition leader Pierre Poilievre grilled Trudeau on how the Liberal government could have been completely ignorant of the guest list that included a Nazi veteran.
Trudeau remained steadfast in his statement that Rota, and only Rota, knew about the invitation.
Trudeau blames Russia
This all comes after PM Trudeau decided to skip out on Question Period on Monday and Tuesday.
When first asked by a reporter for his reaction to the scandal, Trudeau fully blamed Rota. He also said that the incident showed Canadians need to push back against Russian disinformation.
