By Curtis Galbraith

Federal Politics

Warkentin calls salute to what turned out to be a former Nazi solider “incredibly embarrassing”

Sep 29, 2023 | 6:00 AM

The MP for Grande Prairie-Mackenzie says it is not just the Speaker who should take the blame for what turned out to be a salute to a former Nazi soldier in the House of Commons.

It was held as part of a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last Friday. The news came out after the salute that the man had served with a Nazi unit that occupied Ukraine during World War II.

Chris Warkentin suspects that several people “dropped the ball”, all of whom answer to the Prime Minister.

“The Prime Minister did apologize on behalf of Parliament, but he never took any personal responsibility. He didn’t apologize on behalf of his government or of Canada quite frankly.”

“It was quite an embarrassing response to an international disaster, one of which could have been avoided and the Prime Minister needs to take responsibility for that.”

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Warkentin says he was not in the House of Commons for Zelenskyy’s speech as he was travelling between Ottawa and his riding. He says he had obligations here and could not change his travel plans as Zelenskyy’s speech came about at the last minute.

“I, like every other Canadian, couldn’t believe the initial allegations that surfaced. When we all learned that it was true, it was, I think, something that a fiction writer would not have even dreamt up.”

Warkentin adds this plays into Russian propaganda.

“It’s just incredibly embarrassing. I think for Canadians to understand how we’re being presented around the world right now, it’s not just something that is playing here in Canada and playing in Ukraine, it’s playing in every part of the world.”

Warkentin says there are many apologies that need to be made; including to veterans who fought against the Nazis, those who survived the Holocaust, Ukraine, and President Zelenskyy.