Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extended an invitation to Yaroslav Hunka, the veteran of the Ukrainian Waffen-SS who was applauded in the House of Commons during Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Sept. 22 visit, for a reception in Toronto celebrating the Ukrainian president later that evening.
Mr. Hunka was a constituent of Liberal MP Anthony Rota, the Speaker of the House at the time who had extended the invitation to Mr. Hunka and praised him as both a “Ukrainian and Canadian hero.”
The email, titled “Invitation from the Prime Minister of Canada,” requested a prompt response by the following day for the issuance of a formal invitation with comprehensive details on registration and entry.
Additionally, the email inquired about any mobility issues, emphasizing that the invitation was exclusively for Mr. Hunka, without the option to bring a guest and was non-transferable.
The reception, attended by roughly 1,000 individuals, was a significant gathering of members from Canada’s Ukrainian-Canadian community. It also included the participation of Mr. Trudeau, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Mr. Zelenskyy, and his spouse Olena Zelenska, alongside various notable figures and representatives of Canada’s Ukrainian community.
The Office of the Prime Minister told The Globe and Mail that the recommendation to invite Mr. Hunka came from the Canadian Ukrainian Congress, which also suggested other figures from Canada’s Ukrainian community, and Mr. Trudeau was not aware that his name was on the invitation list. A spokesperson for Mr. Rota had previously said the speaker’s guest list for the event had not been shared with the Prime Minister’s Office. Mr. Hunka did not attend the Toronto reception.
Conservatives say the latest revelation shows that the Liberal government “lied” about their responsibility over the incident.
Vetting Processes Questioned
The incident raised questions about vetting processes for guests appearing in Parliament, especially when the prime minister and special guests are in attendance.“I reiterate my profound regret for my error in recognizing an individual in the house during the joint address to Parliament of President Zelenskyy,” Mr. Rota said in his resignation letter.
Following Mr. Trudeau’s apology on behalf of Parliament on Sept. 27, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Mr. Trudeau should apologize for the event personally, rather than on behalf of the Parliament.
“Is he really saying that he did absolutely nothing to protect the Ukrainian president from all of those many risks?” Mr. Poilievre said.
Mr. Trudeau said Mr. Rota had been the one to invite Mr. Hunka to Parliament and deliver the recognition, and had taken responsibility for doing so.
Mr. Trudeau was also asked by Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet if he had personally called the Ukrainian president to apologize for the incident. Mr. Trudeau said the government had sent “several direct messages to the Ukrainian people and President Zelenskyy.”
“At the same time, we will continue to stand strong against propaganda and misinformation stemming from Russia,” he said.