1 of 2 | Anthony Rota (L) is welcomed by Banri Kaieda (C), vice speaker of Japan’s House of Representatives, along with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R) at the first session of the G7 Speakers’ Meeting in Tokyo earlier this month. File Photo by Franck Robichon/EPA-EFE
Sept. 26 (UPI) — Anthony Rota, the speaker of Canada’s House of Commons, has resigned his post after facing criticism for honoring a man associated with the Schutzstaffel, the Nazi paramilitary organization during World War II.
“With a heavy heart, I rise in the House today to inform members of my resignation as speaker of the House of Commons,” Rota stated in a statement published by the lower house of Canada’s parliament.
“It has been my greatest honor as a parliamentarian to be elected by my peers to serve as the speaker of the House of Commons in the 43rd and 44th Parliaments.”
Rota invited Yaroslav Hunka to the House of Commons for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to Parliament. The decision received a standing ovation in the gallery as Hunka was recognized as “a Ukrainian hero” and “a Canadian hero.”
However, it was later revealed that Hunka had served in the First Ukrainian Division, a voluntary unit within the SS under Nazi command.
Poland’s Education Minister Przemysław Czarnek has now announced the possibility of extradition for the nonagenarian to face criminal charges. Canada and Poland do not have a formal extradition agreement.
“I deeply regret my error in recognizing an individual in the House during President Zelensky’s joint address to Parliament,” Rota stated in his announcement.
“My public recognition has caused pain to individuals and communities, including the Jewish community in Canada and around the world, as well as survivors of Nazi atrocities in Poland and other nations. I accept full responsibility for my actions and sincerely apologize.”
Rota’s resignation will take effect at the end of the day Wednesday to allow for the election of a new leader.
