Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized the need for increased Holocaust education on Wednesday in response to a parliamentary tribute to a Waffen SS “hero.".According to Blacklock’s Reporter, opposition MPs criticized the prime minister's comments, expressing their disapproval six days after the incident occurred..“It is important that we learn from this,” Trudeau told the Commons..“It reaffirms the need to keep promoting and investing in Holocaust education.”.“The buck stops with this prime minister,” replied Conservative MP Marty Morantz (Charleswood-St. James, MB). .“That is simply not good enough, not one bit.”.Trudeau expressed regret for the incident on Friday, in which the Commons Speaker introduced a constituent Yaroslav Hunka, 98, of North Bay, ON, as a hero..“We have here in the chamber today a Ukrainian-Canadian war veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians,” the Speaker said. .“He is a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero, and we thank him for all his service. Thank you.”.Hunka volunteered with the 14 Waffen SS Grenadier Division and interned as an enemy prisoner of war in 1945..The German unit was labelled a criminal organization by the 1946 Nuremberg Tribunal primarily because it participated in the mass murder of Jews and other war crimes during World War II..“I would like to apologize sincerely for what happened,” said Trudeau..“The Speaker was solely responsible for the invitation and recognition of this man and has wholly accepted that responsibility and stepped down. This was a mistake that has deeply embarrassed Parliament and Canada.”.Trudeau called the Waffen SS tribute “horrendous,” an “egregious error,” “a mistake that has deeply embarrassed Parliament and Canada.” .During the state visit by the President of Ukraine, opposition MPs stated the prime minister should have personally assumed responsibility for the incident..“The prime minister is there for all of the glory, but when he makes a mess, he is nowhere to be seen,” said Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman (Thornhill, ON). Trudeau “owes Canadians to take personal responsibility.”.“The prime minister has never been shy to use the Nazi label against his opponents, against Canadians,” said Lantsman. .“Not being able to bring himself to take responsibility for an actual Nazi is something Canadians will not forget.”.“He said he is embarrassed, but this isn’t about him,” New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh told the Commons. .“Real damage has been done.”.Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet said Trudeau “did nothing” for days after the Waffen SS tribute. .“The prime minister did not meet with the Jewish community,” said Blanchet..“What has the prime minister done? The prime minister is usually an apology machine.”.The prime minister, in seven years, has issued nine formal expressions of regret, including a 2022 apology to families of Black veterans of World War One, a 2021 apology to Italian Canadians interned in World War Two, a 2019 apology to Inuit tuberculosis patients, a 2019 apology for the 1885 jailing of Chief Poundmaker, a 2018 apology to German Jews denied entry to Canada in 1939, a 2018 apology for the 1864 hanging of Tsilhqot’in chiefs, a 2017 apology to sexual minority members in the Canadian Armed Forces, a 2017 apology to Indian Residential School students in Newfoundland and Labrador and a 2016 apology to Sikhs denied entry to Canada in 1914..“Canada has a really dark history with Nazis in Canada,” Immigration Minister Mark Miller told reporters. .“There was a point in our history when it was easier to get in as a Nazi than it was as a Jewish person. That’s history I think we have to reconcile.” .The Waffen SS tribute was “another disgraceful expression of it,” said Miller..“Shouldn’t the prime minister apologize?” asked a reporter. .“That’s a question for the prime minister,” replied Miller.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized the need for increased Holocaust education on Wednesday in response to a parliamentary tribute to a Waffen SS “hero.".According to Blacklock’s Reporter, opposition MPs criticized the prime minister's comments, expressing their disapproval six days after the incident occurred..“It is important that we learn from this,” Trudeau told the Commons..“It reaffirms the need to keep promoting and investing in Holocaust education.”.“The buck stops with this prime minister,” replied Conservative MP Marty Morantz (Charleswood-St. James, MB). .“That is simply not good enough, not one bit.”.Trudeau expressed regret for the incident on Friday, in which the Commons Speaker introduced a constituent Yaroslav Hunka, 98, of North Bay, ON, as a hero..“We have here in the chamber today a Ukrainian-Canadian war veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians,” the Speaker said. .“He is a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero, and we thank him for all his service. Thank you.”.Hunka volunteered with the 14 Waffen SS Grenadier Division and interned as an enemy prisoner of war in 1945..The German unit was labelled a criminal organization by the 1946 Nuremberg Tribunal primarily because it participated in the mass murder of Jews and other war crimes during World War II..“I would like to apologize sincerely for what happened,” said Trudeau..“The Speaker was solely responsible for the invitation and recognition of this man and has wholly accepted that responsibility and stepped down. This was a mistake that has deeply embarrassed Parliament and Canada.”.Trudeau called the Waffen SS tribute “horrendous,” an “egregious error,” “a mistake that has deeply embarrassed Parliament and Canada.” .During the state visit by the President of Ukraine, opposition MPs stated the prime minister should have personally assumed responsibility for the incident..“The prime minister is there for all of the glory, but when he makes a mess, he is nowhere to be seen,” said Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman (Thornhill, ON). Trudeau “owes Canadians to take personal responsibility.”.“The prime minister has never been shy to use the Nazi label against his opponents, against Canadians,” said Lantsman. .“Not being able to bring himself to take responsibility for an actual Nazi is something Canadians will not forget.”.“He said he is embarrassed, but this isn’t about him,” New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh told the Commons. .“Real damage has been done.”.Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet said Trudeau “did nothing” for days after the Waffen SS tribute. .“The prime minister did not meet with the Jewish community,” said Blanchet..“What has the prime minister done? The prime minister is usually an apology machine.”.The prime minister, in seven years, has issued nine formal expressions of regret, including a 2022 apology to families of Black veterans of World War One, a 2021 apology to Italian Canadians interned in World War Two, a 2019 apology to Inuit tuberculosis patients, a 2019 apology for the 1885 jailing of Chief Poundmaker, a 2018 apology to German Jews denied entry to Canada in 1939, a 2018 apology for the 1864 hanging of Tsilhqot’in chiefs, a 2017 apology to sexual minority members in the Canadian Armed Forces, a 2017 apology to Indian Residential School students in Newfoundland and Labrador and a 2016 apology to Sikhs denied entry to Canada in 1914..“Canada has a really dark history with Nazis in Canada,” Immigration Minister Mark Miller told reporters. .“There was a point in our history when it was easier to get in as a Nazi than it was as a Jewish person. That’s history I think we have to reconcile.” .The Waffen SS tribute was “another disgraceful expression of it,” said Miller..“Shouldn’t the prime minister apologize?” asked a reporter. .“That’s a question for the prime minister,” replied Miller.
