Â鶹´«Ã½

Politics

    • 'Deeply hurtful': Polish ambassador condemns Nazi veteran's invitation to Canada's Parliament

    Share

    Days after members of Parliament gave a standing ovation to a man who fought for a Nazi division in the Second World War, House Speaker Anthony Rota has issued a public apology – but it doesn’t go far enough to address atrocities this division performed on Polish citizens during the war, the Polish ambassador to Canada says.

    Witold Dzielski told CTV National News on Monday that it was “deeply hurtful†to see a veteran who fought for the Nazis applauded in Canada’s House of Commons, and that statements by both Rota and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau don’t go far enough.

    It’s “wrong†that Poland has been left out of these apologies considering the Nazi division in question committed mass killings of Polish citizens, he said.

    “It’s important that allies working together need to have their facts right. In some of the commentary from the leaders, from the Canadian leaders, including the recent comment on the side of Prime Minister Trudeau, the Poles were omitted from the equation,†Dzielski said.

    On Friday, during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Friday address to Parliament, Rota called attention to 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka and led the room in applause for him, identifying him as a “Ukrainian Canadian war veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians.â€

    Hunka had fought for the First Ukrainian Division, also known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division or the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, which was a division made up of volunteers under the command of the Nazis.

    “This is a person who participated in an organization that was targeting Poles, was committing mass murders of Poles, not only the military personnel but also civilians,†Dzielski said. “For me, such people should not be present in public life and probably should be prosecuted.â€

    Rota issued a statement earlier Monday apologizing to the Jewish community and explaining that neither the Ukrainian delegation nor the rest of the House of Commons were aware that he was planning to recognize Hunka on Sunday.

    Trudeau has called it a “profoundly embarrassing†situation and said he is thinking about the impact on Jewish parliamentarians. The NDP and Bloc are calling for Rota to step down.

    “The apology and the explanation of what happened is very important and this is something we very much appreciate. But again, the people that were targeted by SS Galicia were Poles – this word did not appear anywhere,†Dzielski said. “It’s very important and it’s appropriate … that the Jewish community was presented (in the apology), but again, these were also Polish citizens.

    “Remember that during the Second World War, six million Poles were murdered. Six million Poles died. Half of that group, three million, were Polish Jews.â€

    Dzielski said he has met with Rota to discuss the incident, and received a personal apology from him.

    “We’ve worked extensively with him, so I, (on a) personal level, I feel sorry about the whole situation,†he said. He believes that it was a mistake on Rota’s part, but said that doesn’t mean it can be excused.

    “If you come from a society that not so long ago, six million people were killed, then this is an element of your identity. And again, any kind of distortion in that area is deeply hurtful. So ... it's my strong request to our very important ally, Canada, to have the facts right.â€

    Hunka should never have been invited to the House of Commons in the first place, he said.

    “That person should not have appeared in any public place, to tell you the truth, due to his history in SS Galicia,†Dzielski said, adding that he should “face prosecution for what his unit was doing.â€

    The Galicia Division was originally created under Nazi command from Ukrainian volunteers from the Galicia region of Western Ukraine.

    Ivan Katchanovski, a professor of political science at the University of Ottawa who researches conflicts in Ukraine, told CTVNews.ca on Sunday that the division fought the Soviet Union in Galacia region but also took part in suppressing uprisings against the Nazis in Yugoslavia and Slovakia.

    “Members of this division were involved in mass murder of Jews, Poles and Ukranians during World War Two,†he said.

    “This division, or members of this division, were involved in the massacre of almost 1000 Polish civilians in the village of Huta Pieniacka in Galicia region in Ukraine.â€

    Dzielski said that acknowledging the impact that this situation has had on the Polish community is important because we need to “get the facts right†when we condemn the fact that a man who fought for the Nazis was honoured in parliament.

    “For the Polish communities in Poland and Canada, which is one million people, this is omitting Poles, omitting Poland, and that tragic history is deeply hurtful,†he said.

    He is concerned about the way that Russia is already leveraging this incident as fuel to support their war efforts in Ukraine, as they’ve previously used the false claim that Ukraine is a Nazi state to justify their invasion.

    “If you go on Twitter or any other social media, you have Russian trolls using it and politicians and many others using it to their benefit,†Dzielski said. “And this is something we will not be able to stop, but we can, again, get our facts right, stand together and continue the thing which is most important, which is support for Ukrainians fighting for freedom, for democracy.â€

    He said he “cannot imagine†that Zelenskyy understood who he was applauding on Friday.

    “For me, this is not possible,†he said.

    The incident in the House of Commons on Friday is one more complication in Poland’s relations with Ukraine. Poland, which has been a major supporter of Ukraine during the conflict with Russia, is currently in a trade dispute with Ukraine related to Ukrainian grain flooding the markets.

    With files from CTV National News Ottawa Correspondent Judy Trinh and CTVNews.ca Digital Writer-Producer Tom Yun

    IN DEPTH

    Opinion

    opinion

    opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster

    A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?

    opinion

    opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

    When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    Police say a toddler in Cambridge, Ont., who was reported missing early Monday morning, has since died.

    The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has provided new data on the number of employees who were found to have received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    It was a tragic ending to the search for a six-year-old boy in northeastern Manitoba who had been missing since Wednesday.

    Canada

    • The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has provided new data on the number of employees who were found to have received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    • There are 'no restrictions' on the right to receive health services in Quebec for English speakers, according to a new clarification document issued by the Quebec Health Ministry on Monday.

    • Police say a toddler in Cambridge, Ont., who was reported missing early Monday morning, has since died.

    • Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) should investigate how some students on a recent school field trip ended up at a rally where pro-Palestinian slogans were shouted.

    • Authorities are investigating a report that violence erupted on a pickleball court in B.C.'s Lower Mainland over the weekend.

    • A U.S. family whose son is pursuing an education in Vancouver is speaking out following their 'quite alarming' experience with a housing site.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    Fire has destroyed a barn and 17,000 plants at a family-owned business in Lower Coverdale, N.B.

    Before influencers on social media, Canada’s Jeanne Beker was bringing the world of high fashion down to earth and as Calgary’s Glenbow Museum gets a major make-over, it will include a new exhibition showcasing the pop culture icon.

    A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.

    A Nova Scotian YouTuber has launched a mini-truck bookmobile.

    Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

    Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

    An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

    They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

    A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

    • Authorities are investigating a report that violence erupted on a pickleball court in B.C.'s Lower Mainland over the weekend.

    • A woman chased her alleged attacker down a South Vancouver street Sunday night, leading to him being arrested with the help of two bystanders, police say.

    • The NDP has shared a video of B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad saying he regrets getting the "so-called vaccine" against COVID-19.

    • A Toronto rapper who was charged in a fatal 2021 shooting has been released after a judge dismissed social media evidence in the case.

    • Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) should investigate how some students on a recent school field trip ended up at a rally where pro-Palestinian slogans were shouted.

    • A Brampton man has been charged with fraud after allegedly leading someone to believe they bought Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) through a legitimate investment company in British Columbia.

    • The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) is urging the provincial government to implement a new compensation model for doctors and adopt a plan to stabilize acute care.

    • Calgary police have released a photo of a suspect wanted in connection with a fire in the community of Riverbend that damaged multiple homes.

    • On Sept. 20, Justice R.E. Nation of the Alberta Court of King's Bench found Craig McMorran guilty of fraud, money laundering and stealing a cottage from its rightful owners.

    • There has been an apparent spike in the number of reported violent crimes in Ottawa this month. Police Chief Eric Stubbs says it's a concern.

    • The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has provided new data on the number of employees who were found to have received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    • The City of Ottawa says it is recruiting a 'nightlife council' to aid the city's recently appointed nightlife commissioner.

    • There are 'no restrictions' on the right to receive health services in Quebec for English speakers, according to a new clarification document issued by the Quebec Health Ministry on Monday.

    • A 30-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder after a man died of his injuries from an assault in Montreal's Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough earlier this month.

    • As the difficulties mount for battery manufacturer Northvolt, the PQ is calling for an emergency debate in the Quebec legislature on Tuesday to find out more about the agreement between the Quebec government and the Swedish multinational.

    • The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) is urging the provincial government to implement a new compensation model for doctors and adopt a plan to stabilize acute care.

    • Charges are pending against a driver who was headed the wrong way before a crash on Anthony Henday Drive early Monday morning, police say.

    • Arts of the Ave Edmonton Society will receive tens of thousands of dollars in grant money from the Canada Post Community Foundation.

    • Fire has destroyed a barn and 17,000 plants at a family-owned business in Lower Coverdale, N.B.

    • Public health officials in Prince Edward Island are investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness reported among 50 people who attended a shellfish festival over the weekend.

    • Cape Breton Eagles forward Jacob Newcombe has been named the team's new captain.

    • It was a tragic ending to the search for a six-year-old boy in northeastern Manitoba who had been missing since Wednesday.

    • A classic car stolen from a Winnipeg man's garage earlier this month has been recovered.

    • A 26-year-old man wanted by police for two months in connection with the homicide of a woman found in a downtown Winnipeg apartment building has been arrested.

    • With the federal government’s plan to phase out coal power stations by 2030 the provincial government says another $10 million dollars will be given to the Coronach and Estevan regions to help those in the area with the transition.

    • Moose Jaw police say an investigation is underway after a body was found in a vehicle on fire Sunday night.

    • Regina police say a motorcyclist was seriously hurt but suffered from non-life-threatening injuries following a crash on Ring Road late last week.

    • Three people were killed Monday morning in a crash north of Wellesley.

    • Police say a toddler in Cambridge, Ont., who was reported missing early Monday morning, has since died.

    • Police are investigating a sudden death at Bishop Street North and Duke Street in Cambridge.

    • Fire crews are battling a blaze at the Candle Lake Golf Course clubhouse on Monday morning.

    • A First Nation in northeastern Saskatchewan is conducting a search this week for potential unmarked graves.

    • More than a year after the Government of Saskatchewan introduced the pronoun policy, the constitutionality of it continues to be questioned.

    • A family dispute related to a property matter turned ugly over the weekend when a 71-year-old hit their head on the pavement after being pushed.

    • The sexual assault trial for Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard, the former frontman for the band Hedley, is expected to begin in northern Ontario this week, following a jury selection process.

    • 519 Meets organized a car rally in south London on Saturday in a Value Village parking lot, and it turned out to be their largest ever.

    • In early August, Gord Leaman proudly put up a billboard on his front lawn that says 'Screw Trudeau, Screw Singh, Capitalism not Socialism, and White Lives Matter.'

    • The victim has been identified and two people have been arrested following a suspicious death investigation in London.

    • A Brampton man faces charges after police say a dispute over an unpaid bill at Blue Mountain Resort turned into a confrontation.

    • Casino Rama announced three new performances will hit the stage this winter.

    • Provincial police laid charges in a luring and child pornography investigation involving an Orillia man who worked at a local recreation centre.

    • Windsor police have arrested one suspect and is looking for another after shots were fired during an altercation downtown.

    • Windsor police say they are investigating two residential fires that were deliberately set on Sunday morning.

    • Windsor police arrested two suspects after seizing numerous illegal firearms and recovering three stolen motorcycles.

    • The NDP has shared a video of B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad saying he regrets getting the "so-called vaccine" against COVID-19.

    • Conservative leader John Rustad is unveiling his party’s plan to address a key issue for the majority of voters in this election: affordability.

    • British Columbia's provincial wildfire service is battling an out-of-control blaze discovered Sunday on Vancouver Island.

    • A pair of runaway pigs are in the custody of an animal sanctuary in the Okanagan after evading police and volunteers for hours earlier this week.

    • The Red Bridge, a historic landmark in Kamloops, B.C., was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.

    • Animal protection officers in British Columbia have rescued three pit bulls – including one that gave birth to 10 puppies – from a rat-infested home in Kelowna.

    • A Medicine Hat man faces charges after police say they found him in possession of drugs and a .22-calibre pen gun.

    • Despite the heavy rain, plenty of muscle turned up for United Way’s annual Pull the Bus fundraiser in Lethbridge Friday.

    • Lethbridge County has rescinded its fire restriction as a result of the recent cool, wet weathr.

    • After playing the lottery for more than 40 years, a Greater Sudbury woman made a huge windfall playing a scratch ticket game.

    • A family dispute related to a property matter turned ugly over the weekend when a 71-year-old hit their head on the pavement after being pushed.

    • Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 36-year-old suspect with drug trafficking and other charges following a weekend raid of a residence on Robin Street.

    N.L.

    Stay Connected
    Follow Â鶹´«Ã½