The Liberal government is now calling on House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota to resign, four days after he honoured a Ukrainian veteran who fought with the Nazis as a “hero.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said the incident was “completely unacceptable.”
“It was an embarrassment to the House and to Canadians, and I think the Speaker should listen to members of the House and step down,” she told reporters Tuesday.
Joly’s comments are a departure from the approach taken by Liberal House leader Karina Gould a day earlier. On Monday, Gould expressed her disappointment in the speaker but stopped short of calling for his resignation.
Gould herself struck a different chord Tuesday, saying Rota would not continue to have the support of Liberal members of parliament and should step down.
NDP House Leader Peter Julian was the first to call for a resignation, though he was later followed by the Bloc Quebecois and Conservatives.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said house leaders from the respective parties would be having “very important conversations” Tuesday.
“I’m sure (Rota) is reflecting now on how to ensure the dignity of the House going forward,” Trudeau said. “I know that House leaders are going to be meeting later this morning and I’m sure they will have very important conversations.”
