(Ottawa) Liberal MPs carefully avoided saying, Wednesday morning, whether they believe that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must apologize on behalf of Canada, as he is under pressure from all sides to do, for tribute which was paid to a Ukrainian ex-combatant who served in a Nazi unit.
The main person involved, Mr. Trudeau, did not stop to speak to journalists on his way to a meeting of his caucus.
The Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, then dodged any question that could have led him to indicate his personal opinion on a possible apology from the Prime Minister. “It’s a question for [lui] », he justified himself.
PHOTO PATRICK DOYLE, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Marc Miller
He, in the same breath, mentioned that “Canada has a really dark history when it comes to Nazis in Canada.” “There was a time in history when it was easier [d’y] enter as a Nazi than as a Jew,” he said in the press scrum.
His colleague MP for the Ottawa South constituency, David McGuinty, also did not comment on his wish for an apology, but took the liberty of asserting that he believes the issue should be addressed discussions within the Liberal caucus.
The elected official for the Quebec region, Joël Lightbound, for his part threw the ball back into Mr. Trudeau’s court.
PHOTO YAN DOUBLET, LE SOLEIL ARCHIVES
Joel Lightbound
“I will leave it to the Prime Minister to decide what is good for him, but already, I think it is a good thing that Mr. [Anthony] Rota withdrew [comme président de la Chambre]. »
Other members of Mr. Trudeau’s troops maintained that Mr. Rota was solely responsible for the invitation and ovation of ex-Nazi fighter Yaroslav Hunka on the sidelines of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s speech on Friday last in the Commons.
Housing Minister Sean Fraser notably argued that the fact that Mr. Rota resigned as Speaker of the House after apologizing for his grave error was “the appropriate consequence”.
PHOTO SPENCER COLBY, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Sean Fraser
However, Conservatives, Bloc members and New Democrats are demanding an apology from the Prime Minister in unison.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre reiterated his position before heading to his own caucus meeting.
“Justin Trudeau is responsible for our country’s diplomatic reputation [et] for the worst disaster in [la matière] in our history,” he said.
Mr. Trudeau is scheduled to take part in question period Wednesday afternoon for the first time since the controversy surrounding Yaroslav Hunka’s ovation surfaced.