In a defining sequence of events, Anthony Rota, the Speaker of the House of Commons, renowned for his listening and compromising skills, has announced his resignation. Revered across all parties, Rota demonstrated an admirable blend of virtues as an excellent member of Parliament, with his impartial and frankly courageous stand in both governmental and opposition realms, earning him ungrudging respect.
In an unforeseen incident, however, Rota had invited Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old Nazi veteran hailing from his Northern Ontario riding of Nipissing—Timiskaming, to the speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This invitation set off an unprecedented political and diplomatic fiasco.
Rota’s choice of words about his constituent fighting “the Russians” during the Second World War highlighted a significant faux pas on his part: overlooking the fact that Russia—as the linchpin of the Soviet Union—was Canada’s ally during that global conflict. The hasty praise and introduction of the veteran would never have happened had this key fact been acknowledged. This mistake is undeniably Rota’s, a fact he conceded in a heartfelt apology.
Despite the tomfoolery, Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives have tried in vain to pin the blame on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The fact remains that the Speaker’s choice of whom he allocates in his reserved seating is entirely independent. The government has nothing to do with this decision.
Attempts to deflect the blame have not been successful. Former speaker Andrew Scheer’s assertion that the federal government should vet all individuals only highlighted his own mediocre tenure under former prime minister Stephen Harper. Decidedly independent, Rota has always made his own calls; this was undeniably one of them.
The invite to President Zelenskyy initially served as a diplomatic triumph for Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, overshadowing previous contentious interactions with India, which had a significant impact on visa and travel regulations. Everything seemed to align perfectly for their guest’s visit: a Churchillian speech on a splendid late summer day, greeted with profound sincerity.
However, as the gaffe was uncovered, the narrative dramatically shifted. The reality was that the veteran had teamed up with the German army and the notorious Schutzstaffel, responsible for Second World War atrocities—not against the Axis forces but against the Soviets. This historical fact painted an entirely different picture than Rota’s naively delivered accolades.
In accepting responsibility, Anthony Rota has again demonstrated his admirable character in this immensely difficult moment. His mistake will forever be part of his political legacy, as will his significant contribution to our democratic life. The world of politics, as we’ve seen, is not always fair.
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