Honor scandal surrounding SS veterans: Canadian parliament speaker resigns Marsalek may have been a spy for Russians, British officials say

The president of Canada’s House of Commons has resigned after heavy criticism over his tribute to a former Waffen-SS soldier. “The work of Parliament is more important than anyone else. That is why I must resign as Speaker of Parliament,” Anthony Rota said in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Tuesday. “I deeply regret my mistake.” Numerous MPs and government members had previously called on Rota to resign. ‘What happened is unacceptable. “It was embarrassing for the House of Commons and Canadians,” said Foreign Minister Melanie Joly.

Last Friday, Rota honored an SS veteran during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to parliament. He called 98-year-old Ukrainian immigrant Jaroslav Hunka a “Ukrainian-Canadian war veteran” who fought for Ukraine’s independence from Russia. However, according to the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) organization, he did not mention that Hunka served in a Waffen-SS unit during World War II. Hunka was present in the room and received thunderous applause, according to the statement.

According to the FSCW, Hunka served in the 14th Waffen-Grenadier Division of the SS, also known as the Waffen-SS-Division Galizien. Classified as a criminal organization after the end of the war at the Nuremberg Trials, the SS had national associations involved in war crimes in many occupied countries. (sda/dpa)