Trudeau seen as “clown” after Canada House Speaker resigns over Nazi unit veteran tribute: Poilievre

Speaking in Ottawa on Thursday, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a delayed apology, after House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota resigned for a Sept. 22 parliamentary tribute to a Ukrainian man who was revealed to have fought with a Nazi unit in the Second World War.

“The Prime Minister is seen as a clown on the world stage. But whether you blame him or the Liberal Speaker for recognizing a Nazi on the floor of the House of Commons, we all agree that it took him five days — five days — while he hid under a rock and let our reputation be torn to tatters,” Poilievre said.
Government House Leader Karina Gould responded by defending Trudeau, saying, “Every member of Parliament actually recognized that it was the Speaker's responsibility, that's why they called upon him to resign and that's why he did resign.”

After the question period, interim House Speaker Louis Plamondon stepped up to thank the MPS for their “unanimous support” and “the honour of being acting speaker for five days.” Conservative MP Andrew Scheer joked that he hoped Plamondon’s tenure will be “smooth” even though it “won’t be long,” while Gould congratulated Plamondon on his temporary appointment.