Comedian and actor Rob Schneider has joined the growing chorus of voices expressing outrage over the Canadian Parliament’s recent decision to honor a veteran who fought for Nazi Germany during World War II. Schneider took to social media to express his dismay, stating that he has canceled his trip to Canada due to the parliament’s actions.
In his post, Schneider mentioned the ongoing Freedom Convoy protests against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Canada and referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s response to the protests as “tyranny.” He described the decision to honor a former Nazi SS soldier as “despicable and outrageous.”
Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old veteran who served in the First Ukrainian Division under Nazi command, was recognized as a “war hero” by the Canadian Parliament, leading to widespread criticism and calls for apologies. The division, also known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division, fought for the Nazis during World War II.
Schneider further criticized the decision in a follow-up post, emphasizing that Hunka fought for the “REAL Nazis” under Adolf Hitler’s command. His posts added to the controversy surrounding the parliament’s recognition of Hunka.
Critics and Jewish groups have demanded apologies for the decision to honor Hunka, and the incident has led to the resignation of Anthony Rota, the Speaker of Canada’s House of Commons, who had described Hunka as someone who fought for “Ukrainian independence against the Russians.” Rota expressed profound regret for his actions and the pain they caused to various communities.
Schneider welcomed Rota’s resignation as a “very good start” in addressing the issue. The controversy continues to generate significant public debate in Canada and beyond.