'No shame': Conservative MP outraged at lack of apology for PM's invitation to Nazi veteran

 

Government House leader Steven MacKinnon refuses to address Yaroslav Hunka's invitation to a private reception in Toronto

OTTAWA — Government House leader Steven MacKinnon refused to issue an apology on behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for inviting Waffen-SS veteran Yaroslav Hunka to a private reception in Toronto that was held during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit.

MacKinnon was invited to testify in front of a parliamentary committee on the events that led to Hunka receiving a standing ovation in the House of Commons on Sept. 22 after being introduced by then Speaker Anthony Rota as “a Ukrainian hero and a Canadian hero.”

The incident became an international scandal as it was revealed that the 98-year-old Hunka had fought for a Nazi unit in the Second World War, and it was used to further advance Russian President Vladimir Putin’s propaganda that he seeks to “de-nazify” Ukraine.

Rota ultimately resigned as Speaker and said he accepted “full responsibility” for his actions.

But new information has breathed life into the story, with recent reports indicating that Trudeau’s office had invited Hunka, on the recommendation of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, to a reception in Toronto during Zelenskyy’s visit.

Although Hunka did not attend the reception, the revelation prompted Conservatives to ask why Trudeau has not followed Rota in resigning for issuing the invite.  (more...)

'No shame': Conservative MP outraged at lack of apology for PM's invitation to Nazi veteran