Commons Guests Not Screened for Reputation, MPs Told About Nazi Veteran’s Visit

Yaroslav Hunka (R) waits for the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Sept. 22, 2023. The Canadian Press/Patrick Doyle

Senior administrators of the House of Commons say they had no foreknowledge that then-Speaker Anthony Rota had invited a Nazi war veteran to Parliament, nor do they screen guests for reputational risk.

“Guests to Parliament are not screened for reputational threats, which in any event would be difficult to achieve in the very short time available for the organization of such ceremonies,” Clerk of the House of Commons Eric Janse told the Commons Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Feb. 13.