Canada's Apology and Declassification: Confronting Nazi Collaborators

Canada's Governor General, Mary Simon, has issued an apology for the Order of Canada honor awarded in 1987 to Peter Savaryn, a former Nazi soldier who later became the Chancellor of the University of Alberta. Savaryn's past involvement in Adolf Hitler's Waffen SS units was not known at the time of his appointment. The apology comes after concerns were raised over another former Nazi soldier, Yaroslav Hunka, who was praised in Canada's parliament. The incident led to the resignation of the House Speaker. Calls have been made to release the Deschenes Commission report from the 1980s, which investigated the presence of war criminals in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that the issue is being carefully examined by top public servants.