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Critics love to point out how much Justin Trudeau likes to hang with celebrities, from Harrison Ford to Idris Elba. So when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy jetted to Ottawa in September 2023 to secure funding for his country’s existential war effort against invading Russia, no doubt Trudeau was gobsmacked about basking in the glow of arguably the world’s most high-profile leader at the moment. In the end, Zelenskyy got the better end of the deal, receiving $650 million worth of assistance. Trudeau, however, probably wished that the spotlight would have faded to black.
The downside of the House of Commons shindig occurred after Zelenskyy’s heartfelt speech when House Speaker Anthony Rota introduced 98-year-old Canadian immigrant Yaroslav Hunka, described as a “freedom fighter” who defended Ukraine during the Second World War. Hours after the final standing ovation, it turned out Hunka fought for Ukraine against the Soviet Union as part of the Nazi Waffen-SS Galicia Division. Apparently, Rota invited Hunka on his own accord, skipping the vetting process.
“All of us who were in the House on Friday regret deeply having stood and clapped, even though we did so unaware of the context,” said an embarrassed Trudeau over the controversy that resulted in Rota’s resignation, as reported by AP. Trudeau declined to take responsibility for the fiasco, a point his opposition jumped on. “Mr. Trudeau must personally apologize and avoid passing the blame to others as he always does,” argued Conservative leader Pierre Polievre, according to the Economic Times.
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Source: NewsFinale
