"I am very proud to say he is from North Bay": MP Anthony Rota on welcoming Nazi Soldier in Parliament

MPs give two standing ovations to WW2 Nazi soldier.

I almost couldn’t believe it. On Friday when the Canadian parliament welcomed the President of Ukraine, they also invited a special guest which led to one of the most embarrassing moments in our legislature’s history.

During the hour long delegation from Ukraine where Canada pledged another $650M in financial aid (we are now up to $9 billion), North Bay MP Anthony Rota introduced a Ukrainian war veteran.

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. 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. - MP Anthony Rota

Scroll to the bottom for the full video.

This introduction should have raised alarm bells to the 338 MPs in the house. Most people know that the Russians were part of the Allies (our side during WW2). The Russians were fighting the Nazis. In Ukraine on the other hand, the 4th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS was considered part of Germany’s Nazi war machine. It was a volunteer unit with 80,000 members that faught alongside the Nazis.

Jaroslav Hunka was one of them. And after the war he presumably emigrated to Canada and settled down in North Bay.

Regardless of the introduction confirming this as a likely Nazi affiliate, all 338 MPs stood up and gave him not one, but two standing ovations.

After Jewish organizations condemned this act in Parliament and asked MPs to apologize.

Anthony Rota quickly did so.

On Friday, September 22, in my remarks following the address of the President of Ukraine, I recognized an individual in the gallery," said Rota in the statement. 

I have subsequently become aware of more information which causes me to regret my decision to do so.

I wish to make clear that no one, including fellow parliamentarians and the Ukraine delegation, was aware of my intention or of my remarks before I delivered them.

It’s very hard to believe that Mr. Rota wasn’t “aware” that Russia was fighting the Germans in WW2.

Another Conspiracy Theory Proved Right

But the most underreported story in this fiasco is the reaction to the introduction and ovation from the guest of honour.

Since the beginning of this war, there have been allegations that Ukraine still has strong ties to Nazis. Notably because of the Azov Battalion which fights on behalf of Ukraine in the current war and has Nazi symbols in it’s imagery and logos. There is also the controversial topic of the 4th Waffen Grenadier Division’s place in Ukrainian history. Many in Ukraine still glorify this Nazi division. Shortly before the War started, there was a march in Ukraine praising this division and Zelenski came under fire for initially supporting it but then changing his tune on the march.

Last year, the mainstream media downplayed any associations between Ukraine and Nazis as “Russia misinformation” or again as just “conspiracy theories”.

But on Friday when Hunka was announced as being part of the Nazi battalion, and the 338 MPs stood up, Zelenski is seen visibly fist pumping and praising this man. Which means he really is proud of his country’s association to its Nazi past.

On Friday, the Canadian Parliament was the theatre that proved that Ukrainian-Nazi ties is not a crazy conspiracy theory.

Maybe the 338 MPs and the rest of Canada will think twice before we send the next billion dollars to fund a conflict halfway across the world.