Family of man who fought in Nazi unit unaware Hunka would be honoured in Parliament, friend says

A longtime friend says the Hunka family was unaware 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka would be honoured in Parliament last week in front of Ukraine's president, setting off an international controversy. 

Barb Bonenfant, who lives in North Bay, Ont., told CBC News that Hunka's daughter-in-law sent her a message on Sunday after the public backlash began. 

"She said that her family was shocked at what happened," said Bonenfant. "If her and her husband would have had any idea what was going to happen, they would have never brought this 98-year-old man to Ottawa."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered "unreserved apologies" on Canada's behalf on Wednesday for parliamentarians giving a standing ovation without knowing the Ukrainian Second World War veteran fought for Nazi Germany. Trudeau called it an "egregious error" that "deeply embarrassed Parliament and Canada." 

Trudeau also said Canada reached out to Kyiv through diplomatic channels to apologize to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Hunka's local MP Anthony Rota first apologized on Sunday and again in the House of Commons on Tuesday when he tendered his resignation as Speaker. Rota said he was unaware of Hunka's past after it came to light he served with the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS. 

The Speaker's office has said Hunka's "son contacted Rota's constituency office and asked if it would be possible for Mr. Hunka to attend the address in the House of Commons by Mr. Zelenskyy." The Speaker's office said it accepted this request.

In light of the uproar, B'nai Brith Canada and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies are reiterating longstanding calls for the federal government declassify secret documents about Nazi war criminals in Canada.

This week, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Canada "has a really dark history with Nazis in Canada" and could revisit demands to release documents.

CBC News traveled to North Bay, Ont., this week where shock waves from the political controversy are being felt in Rota and Hunka's home town. 

"The family is in hiding here in North Bay," Bonenfant said. "I'm sure [they're] afraid to show their faces." 

Larry Fuld is a North Bay resident who is part of the city's small Jewish community. He lost family members in the Holocaust. Fuld said the words "Nazi" and "SS" conjure up horrible imagery — and deservedly so. 

Fuld said Rota called him on Sunday to personally apologize. 

"He explained that he made a mistake and that Mr. Hunka was introduced to parliament and his background was unknown," said Fuld. "And he regrets the situation, he regrets any pain or discomfort that he's caused to the Jewish community."