Canada's parliament speaker apologises after honouring Nazi-linked veteran

Speaker Rota apologises for honouring Ukrainian WWII veteran who fought for Nazis; Trudeau's office denies involvement; Poilievre slams "error in judgement".

The speaker of Canada's parliament apologised on Sunday after he singled out a Ukrainian veteran alleged to have fought for the Nazis during World War II for a standing ovation during a visit by Ukraine's leader.

The applause came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Canadian parliament on Friday, as Speaker of the House Anthony Rota paid homage to Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old Ukrainian immigrant.

Mr. Rota hailed Mr. Hunka as "a Ukrainian Canadian war veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians" and "a Ukrainian hero and a Canadian hero."

The remarks ignore "the horrific fact that Hunka served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, a Nazi military unit whose crimes against humanity during the Holocaust are well-documented," the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) said Sunday.

The Jewish advocacy group called the incident "shocking" and "incredibly disturbing".

"An apology is owed to every Holocaust survivor and veteran of the Second World War who fought the Nazis, and an explanation must be provided as to how this individual entered the hallowed halls of Canadian Parliament and received recognition from the Speaker of the House and a standing ovation," it continued.

Mr. Rota, a Liberal MP, apologised on Sunday, saying that he had "subsequently become aware of more information" which caused him to "regret" his recognition of Mr. Hunka.