Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy greet supporters after a rally at the Fort York Armoury in Toronto on Friday, September 22, 2023. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)
Hunka’s invitation to the Toronto event likely will raise new questions about government vetting processes for events featuring foreign dignitaries.
Conservatives are placing the blame for the incident squarely on Trudeau and are accusing him of not being truthful about the invitation.
“It is appalling and bewildering, although entirely unsurprising, that Justin Trudeau would embarrass our country and undermine our relationship with an ally,” Sebastian Skamski, a spokesperson for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, said in an email.