Canadian Federal Politics Thread v5

[2Stonedbirds]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/nationa...afed8905b/amp/

"Hunka was invited by Speaker Anthony Rota"

How did Rota know who this guy was and extend a invite? Someone did their best to virtue signal to Zelensky and forgot their history? Forgot to check this guy out? Who did the leg work to drag a war criminal into our house?

Absolutely disgusting

[madmike]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

https://www.google.com/amp/s/nationa...afed8905b/amp/

"Hunka was invited by Speaker Anthony Rota"

How did Rota know who this guy was and extend a invite? Someone did their best to virtue signal to Zelensky and forgot their history? Forgot to check this guy out? Who did the leg work to drag a war criminal into our house?

Absolutely disgusting

My guess would be the Speaker’s staff. But it must have passed through multiple people at other levels - none of whom have a good grasp of history.

[Zarley]

Amateur hour with these clowns. It's comical at this point.

[opendoor]

I mean, there are monuments to the Waffen-SS 14th Galicia Division in Canada (including one in Edmonton). People have been pointing this out for years and getting called out as "Russian disinformation".

And the complex where a different monument in Edmonton is located (a bust of Nazi collaborator Roman Shukhevych) even received a grant from the federal government to increase its security system to prevent hate crimes, largely because people have been defacing the bust by spray painting "Nazi" on it.

So a guy who fought with the Nazis being invited to the House of Commons is pretty on brand for the federal government.

[CliffFletcher]

What’s funny is they had to be called the ‘Galicia Division’ instead of the ‘Ukraine Division’ because Germans had been taught that Ukrainians (being slavs) were untermensch, and you couldn’t have untermensch in the SS.

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by madmike

From what I’ve read he’s a constituent in the independent speaker’s riding and lives in North Bay.

Added the bolded to parrot Trudeau (never mind that he's a sitting Liberal MP member who gets selected by majority through secret ballot)

Apparently his recognition choice is worse in that he had no idea who he recognized.

https://www.ourcommons.ca/publicatio...Page=1&RPP=15#

We have here in the chamber today a Ukrainian Canadian war veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians and continues to support the troops today even at his age of 98. His name is Yaroslav Hunka. I am very proud to say that he is from North Bay and from my riding of Nipissing—Timiskaming. He is a Ukrainian hero and a Canadian hero, and we thank him for all his service. Thank you.

Canadian hero? Fought for Ukrainian Independence against the Russians in the 2nd world war? And proudly from North Bay? I mean it sounded good.

Just a few details missing. He's apologized, but how does he not vet a guy before presenting him in the house of commons?

https://nationalpost.com/news/speake...zi-controversy

Poilievre and Peter Julian are correct.

NDP House leader Peter Julian said Rota made an “unforgivable error” and that “a sacred trust has been broken” in recognizing 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka as “a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero” moments before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s address to Parliament, prompting MPs and dignitaries in the House to offer a standing ovation.

“This is an appalling error in judgment on the part of Justin Trudeau, whose personal protocol office is responsible for arranging and vetting all guests and programming for state visits of this kind,” wrote Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre on X (formerly Twitter).

In a statement made Sunday, Rota said he has “subsequently become aware of more information” which caused him to “regret” his decision and extended his “deepest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and around the world.

Rota needs to explain how he got knowledge of Hunka and how he didn't put two and two together prior to his recognition. It was totally unnecessary as well and screams of virtue signaling for the sake of it.

[opendoor]

I think it was a combo of historical ignorance and simply not caring. Extolling WWII era fascists and Nazi collaborators hasn't been a political liability so far (see Freeland posing with OUN banner, government-funded Victims of Communism memorial that has received donations for Nazi collaborators' names to be put on there, etc.). You just say it's Russian disinformation and no one seems to care. But I guess this was on a big enough stage and the government is unpopular enough that it'll stick this time.

What I find odd is that no one seemed to raise their eyebrows given how the guy was introduced. Trudeau's a dolt, so I wouldn't expect much from him. But it's a virtual certainty that Freeland knows all about the division this guy was part of and its history, yet she was still giving him an enthusiastic standing ovation.

[CaptainCrunch]

It goes beyond Rota though, There was a private reception that this person was invited to with the PM as well as a photo op with people like Karina Gould who is the house leader.



Rota is one part of how this happened, but I feel pretty sure that the PMO would have set up the private event with Trudeau.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

It goes beyond Rota though, There was a private reception that this person was invited to with the PM as well as a photo op with people like Karina Gould who is the house leader.



Rota is one part of how this happened, but I feel pretty sure that the PMO would have set up the private event with Trudeau.

If I understand correctly, the PMO is responsible for vetting EVERY guest that comes into the house, so whether there was a private meeting with JT or not, they were responsible for knowing exactly who they were dealing with and recognizing.

Its a remarkable blunder on their part.

[Jacks]

The guy made a big mistake and gave what appears to be a sincere apology.

All 3 parties are being ridiculous in this.

The NDP calling for him to step down is a bit extreme. This shouldn't be a career cancelling mistake.

The CPC trying to pin it all on Trudeau is ridiculous.

The Libs throwing the guy under the bus, suddenly trying to pretend that he isn't even a Liberal

The government should also issue an apology and then everyone should move on IMO.

[2Stonedbirds]

Originally Posted by transplant99

If I understand correctly, the PMO is responsible for vetting EVERY guest that comes into the house, so whether there was a private meeting with JT or not, they were responsible for knowing exactly who they were dealing with and recognizing.

Its a remarkable blunder on their part.

Which is amazing considering this party sees a nazi wherever and whenever it can be construed as political ammo, yet they waltz one right into the house and give the bastard as many accolades as possible.

Considering past instances, and the protocol involved to make this happen, I'm starting to doubt it's merely incompetence. They had to have known, and just didn't care because at best they are glad handing Zelensky or worse, this is what they wanted.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Which is amazing considering this party sees a nazi wherever and whenever it can be construed as political ammo, yet they waltz one right into the house and give the bastard as many accolades as possible.

Considering past instances, and the protocol involved to make this happen, I'm starting to doubt it's merely incompetence. They had to have known, and just didn't care because at best they are glad handing Zelensky or worse, this is what they wanted.

I can guarantee there is no way in hell this is what the wanted.
The government is trying to change the channel on their incompetence not throw gas on the fire.

[Azure]

As a party I don't believe it is what they wanted, but I do believe some people should be fired over this.

We're not talking about a small town meeting inviting the wrong guy, and apologizing after. Canada is an important voice in the world, and our government can't be doing stuff like this.

At the very least Rota and his staff should all be canned.

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by opendoor

I think it was a combo of historical ignorance and simply not caring. Extolling WWII era fascists and Nazi collaborators hasn't been a political liability so far (see Freeland posing with OUN banner, government-funded Victims of Communism memorial that has received donations for Nazi collaborators' names to be put on there, etc.). You just say it's Russian disinformation and no one seems to care. But I guess this was on a big enough stage and the government is unpopular enough that it'll stick this time.

What I find odd is that no one seemed to raise their eyebrows given how the guy was introduced. Trudeau's a dolt, so I wouldn't expect much from him. But it's a virtual certainty that Freeland knows all about the division this guy was part of and its history, yet she was still giving him an enthusiastic standing ovation.

I will be frank I had no idea how prevalent the whitewashing was in Canada especially in regards to the Galicia division considering what they have done.

http://espritdecorps.ca/history-feat...-collaborators

Also...this doesn't help

https://twitter.com/user/status/1706058804570268125

https://twitter.com/user/status/1706077279086940199

She had a picture of her, Rota and Hunka posted before she deleted it as well as a picture of Hunka waiting, taken by his daughter in law. Gould just took a picture with Hunka and proudly posted it, without chatting with him?

Liberals are currently vehemently denying that Hunka ever met Trudeau. If it surfaces that Trudeau actually met Hunka (as Gould did who was forced to retract her words) with his staunch portrayal of Rota being a lone wolf on this, it would be political suicide. Poilievre is correct that Trudeau and the PMO is responsible for vetting guests for state visits.

And as you stated, Freeland couldn't have played dumb here, she had to know that Hunka fighting the Soviets would only have been possible on the German side.

Such a complete unnecessary own goal that tarnished and overshadowed what was a historic meeting with Zelensky.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by Firebot

And as you stated, Freeland couldn't have played dumb here, she had to know that Hunka fighting the Soviets would only have been possible on the German side.

Given the history around her grandfather and her knowledge of Ukrainian history, it would be effectively impossible for her to not be keenly aware of the context of what that division was and what they did.

And to be fair, I do think some of the smearing of her by using her grandfather's role in WWII (basically working with the Nazis and editing a pro-German anti-semitic newspaper) is unfair; I don't think descendants necessarily have to answer for the sins of their ancestors. But at the same time, she also shouldn't just dismiss it as Russian disinformation as she has in the past. And her enthusiastic ovation for the Waffen-SS soldier really isn't making a good case that she recognizes the reality of the situation beyond viewing it through a simplistic nationalistic lens.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by rubecube

The condemnation coming from the CPC is pretty rich considering who PP keeps company with.

Ehhhhh... there are a couple of things here. First, I don't think PP is keeping company with - and certainly not asking for applause for or lauding as heroes - any actual, literal, honest to goodness Nazis.

Second, with respect to the questionable company he HAS kept, he has done so either intentionally or in a circumstance where he was wilfully blind to the issue for political gain with certain parties. That actually makes him more culpable, arguably.

Third, this is still a worse blunder than any of the "LOOK AT THE AWFUL INDIVIDUAL THIS CPC PERSON TOOK A PICTURE WITH" stories that happen seemingly every month or two. Getting your picture taken with a random person who happens to walk up to you at a fundraiser or event or whatever is nowhere near the level of screw up that having a literal Nazi get a standing ovation in Parliament is. One of those things is "I can see how that could happen", the other is unbelievable. I mean, I legitimately did not believe it when someone told me this happened.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Ehhhhh... there are a couple of things here. First, I don't think PP is keeping company with - and certainly not asking for applause for or lauding as heroes - any actual, literal, honest to goodness Nazis.

Second, with respect to the questionable company he HAS kept, he has done so either intentionally or in a circumstance where he was wilfully blind to the issue for political gain with certain parties. That actually makes him more culpable, arguably.

Third, this is still a worse blunder than any of the "LOOK AT THE AWFUL INDIVIDUAL THIS CPC PERSON TOOK A PICTURE WITH" stories that happen seemingly every month or two. Getting your picture taken with a random person who happens to walk up to you at a fundraiser or event or whatever is nowhere near the level of screw up that having a literal Nazi get a standing ovation in Parliament is. One of those things is "I can see how that could happen", the other is unbelievable. I mean, I legitimately did not believe it when someone told me this happened.

Used to think Rube was objective.

Imagine how much you gotta stretch this story to not see how ridiculous the entire thing is.

Is the PM to blame? Well sure, it is his government. Did he intentionally bring the Nazi scum to the HoC? Well of course not. Did he know? Likely not. Should heads roll? Yes.

The whole 'yeah it ain't my fault' charade that JT is doing is pathetic. End of the day, take some responsibility for what a party member did, and perhaps next time spend a little more time figuring out who you are bringing into government chambers.

[burn_this_city]

The government's lack of judgment is really coming into focus these days. There is a ton of smoke coming from the Russians about Ukrainian Nazis, and here comes the Canadian parliament giving one a standing ovation.

There is a lot of history of collaboration with the Nazis against the Bolsheviks, with well documented pogroms against the Jews, and Poles, especially in Western Ukraine.

It seems highly probable this particular one wasn't a war criminal or involved in atrocities, as the allies tried root them all out before they landed in Canada, but having him lauded in such a manner is really disappointing.

Feel bad for Zelenskky considering his family lost a lot of members in the Holocaust, and the Ukrainian Nazi stigma has dogged his country and factions of the armed forces during the last 8 years.

[transplant99]

Long before Galicia Division veteran Yaroslav Hunka ever scored an invite to Parliament Hill, Canada spent decades overlooking and even providing official cover for an organization that would later claim to be full of Ukrainian freedom-fighters, but was founded by Nazis, served under Nazi command and fought exclusively to serve Nazi aims.

There are monuments to the unit at cemeteries in both Alberta and Oakville, Ont., both of which avoid any mention of its SS origins, instead referring to it as the 1st Ukrainian Division of the Ukrainian National Army. When this was pointed out by the Russian Foreign Ministry in 2018, documents later obtained by Postmedia would show that Global Affairs Canada rushed to have the claim labelled as “misinformation.” The minister of foreign affairs at the time, Chrystia Freeland, has also played the “disinformation” card whenever Russia has pointed out that her own family tree contains a Ukrainian collaborator (although not one who served with the Galicia Division).

After the war, a disproportionate number of Galicia Division veterans would find their way to Canada. Immigration policy at the time was to reject any veteran of the German Wehrmacht or the SS, but according to a 1986 federal public inquiry into war criminals on Canadian soil, members of the Galicia Division were given a cabinet-level exemption in 1950.

Quite the history....oh and it was a Liberal government under St. Laurent in 1950.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/can...box=1695674531

[iggy_oi]

I don’t know what’s worse, the fact that the government is capable of making this dumb of a mistake related to a fascist idiot from another country or the fact that people and the media are using it to play politics in an effort to distract us from the fact that the opposition are actively supporting fascists in our own country.

As of right now will everyone claiming to hate parties with ties to fascists be voting green or NDP next time around? My guess is probably not.