Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, Anthony Rota, tendered his resignation on Wednesday in response to mounting pressure stemming from a controversy that erupted following his recognition of a Ukrainian war veteran during a session of the House of Commons. This development was reported by Canada-based Global News.
Anthony Rota made his resignation announcement on Tuesday afternoon within the House of Commons, specifying that it would become effective at the conclusion of business hours on Wednesday. He expressed his decision in the following words: “I must step down as your Speaker,” and added, “I reiterate my profound regret.”
The controversy in question occurred on September 22 during Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy’s address to Canada’s Parliament. During this event, Anthony Rota honored 98-year-old Ukrainian veteran Yaroslav Hunka, who had served in the first Ukrainian division, also known as the SS division “Galicia” during World War II.
The Speaker’s actions triggered criticism from various quarters, including Senior Liberals, the NDP, the Bloc Quebecois, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, all of whom called for Rota’s resignation, as reported by Global News.
In response to the backlash, Rota issued two apologies. The first was on Sunday, when Hunka’s background came to light, and the second on Monday. In his apologies, he asserted that he had been unaware of Hunka’s history and expressed remorse for his decision. However, opposition Members of Parliament deemed these apologies insufficient and insisted on his resignation.
New Westminster—Burnaby MP Peter Julian, addressing Anthony Rota on Monday, stated, “The Parliament entrusts the Speaker to guide this Parliament through challenging circumstances. Unfortunately, I believe a sacred trust has been broken. It’s for that reason, for the good of the institution of the House of Commons, that I say sadly, I don’t believe you can continue in this role. Regrettably, I must respectfully ask that you step aside,” as quoted by Global News.
Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet also called for Rota’s resignation, emphasizing the damage caused by the Speaker’s error and the resulting loss of confidence in the House’s ability to perform its function.
In the midst of this controversy, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre shifted blame onto Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, asserting that the Prime Minister’s Office should have vetted the guest list compiled by the Speaker. Poilievre criticized Trudeau for not taking responsibility and referred to a pattern of “constant international embarrassment” under Trudeau’s leadership, as reported by CBC News.
Addressing Anthony Rota directly, Poilievre questioned, “He always finds someone else to throw under the bus. Are you that person?”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also expressed his deep embarrassment over the incident and acknowledged the Speaker’s mistake during a news briefing. He stated, “It’s extremely upsetting that this happened. The Speaker has acknowledged his mistake and has apologized. But this is something that is deeply embarrassing to the Parliament of Canada and by extension to all Canadians.”
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