Standing Ovation for a Nazi – Federal government creates international outrage by honouring WWII Nazi SS soldier

The Speaker of the House of Commons has already resigned. General apologies have been made. Canada’s Liberal government is hoping to move on from this monumental gaff as soon as possible. But it might not be that easy.

It could be some time before we realize the implications of what might be this government’s biggest international mishap, ever. For a quick description of what exactly happened in the House of Commons and to show how other countries are seeing this brutal mistake, we share this video from The Telegraph.

From The Telegraph

The speaker of Canada’s House of Commons has apologised to Jewish communities after honouring a veteran who fought for a military unit under Nazi command during World War Two. Anthony Rota had invited his fellow MPs to give a standing ovation to Yaroslav Hunka, 98, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to Parliament on Friday. Mr Rota introduced Mr Hunka as a war hero who fought for “Ukrainian independence against the Russians”. Read the full story here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new…

The average Canadian (maybe not out west) has gone from at least mildly admiring the youthful vigour of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to cringing every time he boards an airplane. Somehow Trudeau always seems to find a way to make himself look silly on the road, and now at home too. With each passing month the rest of the world takes Canada a little less seriously. This may have reached an inflection point.

Sure, Speaker Anthony Rota jumped on his sword but the buck definitely does not stop at the Speaker’s chair. With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky present, the PMO would be fully aware the eyes of the world would ever so briefly be pointed towards Ottawa. Either they had every moment planned, or they should have.

The PMO can’t win here. If they knew about Mr Hunka’s invitation, my oh my this is definitely beyond an ‘egg in the face’ situation. After years of equating political opponents and truckers with Nazi’s, they actually invite a real Nazi into the House of Commons and give him a standing ovation, WITH THE ENTIRE WORLD WATCHING! On the other hand, IF and that’s a capital I and a capital F, the PMO truly was actually surprised by the Speaker’s choice for honoured guest, they have only themselves to blame for not vetting absolutely everyone and everything that happened during President Zelensky’s short visit. Either way… WOW this is bad.

It will be interesting to see how the regular ‘legacy’ media follows up with coverage over the next few days and perhaps even weeks. The independent media coverage is absolutely scathing. Those who wish to dismiss independent media are ignoring a large and growing segment of the population who don’t necessarily agree with Canada’s ongoing and very expensive support of Ukraine’s military effort.

In this video a discussion about what happened in Ottawa and what the response might be around the world.

Duane Rolheiser

After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

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DOJ drops Biden-era discrimination lawsuit against Elon Musk’s SpaceX

Published on February 22, 2025

Todayville

MxM News

Quick Hit:

The Justice Department has withdrawn a discrimination lawsuit against Elon Musk’s SpaceX that was filed during the Biden administration. The lawsuit accused SpaceX of discriminatory hiring practices against asylum seekers and refugees. The move follows ongoing cost-cutting measures led by Musk as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency under the 47th President Donald Trump’s administration.

Key Details:

The DOJ filed an unopposed motion in Texas federal court to lift a stay on the case, signaling its intent to formally dismiss the lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023, alleged SpaceX required job applicants to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, a restriction prosecutors argued was unlawful for many positions.
Elon Musk criticized the lawsuit as politically motivated, asserting that SpaceX was advised hiring non-permanent residents would violate international arms trafficking laws.

Diving Deeper:

The Justice Department, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, has moved to drop the discrimination lawsuit against SpaceX, marking another reversal of Biden-era legal actions. The case, initiated in 2023, accused SpaceX of discriminating against asylum seekers and refugees by requiring job applicants to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Prosecutors claimed the hiring policy unlawfully discouraged qualified candidates from applying.

The DOJ’s decision to withdraw the case follows a judge’s earlier skepticism about the department’s authority to pursue the claims. No official reason for the withdrawal was provided, and neither Musk, SpaceX, nor the DOJ have issued public statements on the development.

Elon Musk was outspoken in his criticism of the lawsuit, labeling it as a politically motivated attack. Musk argued that SpaceX was repeatedly informed that hiring non-permanent residents would violate international arms trafficking laws, exposing the company to potential criminal penalties. He accused the Biden-era DOJ of weaponizing the case for political purposes.

The decision to drop the lawsuit coincides with Musk’s growing influence within the Trump administration, where he leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Under his leadership, DOGE has implemented aggressive cost-cutting measures across federal agencies, including agencies that previously investigated SpaceX. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which proposed fining SpaceX $633,000 for license violations in 2023, is currently under review by DOGE officials embedded within the agency.

Meanwhile, SpaceX’s regulatory challenges appear to be easing. A Texas-based environmental group recently dropped a separate lawsuit accusing the company of water pollution at its launch site near Brownsville. The withdrawal of the DOJ lawsuit signals a significant victory for Musk as he continues to navigate regulatory scrutiny while advancing his business ventures under the Trump administration.

Business

PepsiCo joins growing list of companies tweaking DEI policies

Published on February 22, 2025

Todayville

MxM News

Quick Hit:

PepsiCo is the latest major U.S. company to adjust its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies as 47th President Donald Trump continues his campaign to end DEI practices across the federal government and private sector. The company is shifting away from workforce representation goals and repurposing its DEI leadership, signaling a broader trend among American corporations.

Key Details:

PepsiCo will end DEI workforce representation goals and transition its chief DEI officer to focus on associate engagement and leadership development.
The company is introducing a new “Inclusion for Growth” strategy as its five-year DEI plan concludes.
PepsiCo joins other corporations, including Target and Alphabet-owned Google, in reconsidering DEI policies following Trump’s call to end “illegal DEI discrimination and preferences.”

Diving Deeper:

PepsiCo has announced significant changes to its DEI initiatives, aligning with a growing movement among U.S. companies to revisit diversity policies amid political pressure. According to an internal memo, the snacks and beverages giant will no longer pursue DEI workforce representation goals. Instead, its chief DEI officer will transition to a broader role that focuses on associate engagement and leadership development. This shift is part of PepsiCo’s new “Inclusion for Growth” strategy, set to replace its expiring five-year DEI plan.

The company’s decision to reevaluate its DEI policies comes as President Donald Trump continues his push against DEI practices, urging private companies to eliminate what he calls “illegal DEI discrimination and preferences.” Trump has also directed federal agencies to terminate DEI programs and has warned that academic institutions could face federal funding cuts if they continue with such policies.

PepsiCo is not alone in its reassessment. Other major corporations, including Target and Google, have also modified or are considering changes to their DEI programs. This trend reflects a broader corporate response to the evolving political landscape surrounding DEI initiatives.

Additionally, PepsiCo is expanding its supplier base by broadening opportunities for all small businesses to participate, regardless of demographic categories. The company will also discontinue participation in single demographic category surveys, further signaling its shift in approach to DEI.

As companies like PepsiCo navigate these changes, the debate over the future of DEI in corporate America continues. With Trump leading a campaign against these practices, more companies may follow suit in reevaluating their DEI strategies.