A Conservative MP said she is “incredibly disappointed” that a parliamentary committee did not commence work immediately to figure out how a former Waffen SS member was honoured in Parliament.
Instead, said Stephanie Kusie, MP for Calgary Midnapore, her motion to investigate was passed on by what she called a “watered-down letter” from the Government Operations and Estimates committee to the Procedure and House Affairs committee.
“Canada has to wear this for forever. Canada can never undo this,” she said. “And the sooner we start the process as to figuring out how this occurred, the sooner we can ensure that this never happens again.”
The request going to the Procedure and House Affairs committee asks for an investigation into how ex-Speaker Anthony Rota arranged a parliamentary tribute to a Waffen SS member. The Nazi military unit was named a criminal organization by the 1946 Nuremberg Tribunal for its participation in the mass murder of Jews, according to a story in Blacklock’s Reporter.
“I would actually be very interested to hear from the former Speaker as to what vetting processes he and his staff went through for this tragedy to occur,” said Ms. Kusie while speaking to her motion. “Find out exactly, precisely what happened so that it never, ever happens again.”
On Sept. 22, Mr. Rota presented a constituent, Yaroslav Hunka, to the House as a national hero who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians.
“I am very proud to say he is from North Bay and from my riding of Nipissing-Temiskaming,” said Mr. Rota. “He is a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero, and we thank him for all his service.”
Conservative MP Garnett Genuis told the committee the reference to Mr. Hunka’s military record should have raised suspicions. “Someone who fought against Russia during the Second World War, that should not have passed the basic smell test,” said Mr. Genuis.
Mr. Hunka was a volunteer with the 14 Waffen SS Grenadier Division and interned as an enemy prisoner of war in 1945.
“The sad thing is we are living through a time when the term Nazi is regularly thrown around as a political insult apparently by people who don’t seem to have a basic understanding and recollection of the history of Nazism,” said Mr. Genuis. “This is deeply troubling and it contributes I think to the concern about what happened last Friday.”
Bloc Québécois MP Julie Vignola called the incident outrageous. “Nobody in the House would have stood to applaud a Nazi,” she said.
New Democrat MP Gord Johns told the committee a proper investigation is due. “What this committee wants, everybody wants, and that’s to make sure this is looked at and that it’s done properly, that there’s accountability,” he said.
Mr Rota resigned Sept. 27 under threat of formal censure by all parties in the Commons. A successor will be elected by secret ballot on Oct. 3.
