Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon has apologised for a top Canadian honour awarded to a former Nazi soldier nearly four decades ago.

In 1987, Peter Savaryn, former chancellor of the University of Alberta, was awarded the Order of Canada.

Since then, it has emerged that Mr Savaryn served in the Waffen SS during World War II.

It comes after a fortnight-long row in Canada’s parliament over an invitation to an elderly Ukrainian who fought with Nazi Germany.

In the House of Commons, during a visit by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Yaroslav Hunka, 98, was applauded by lawmakers unaware of his background.

The Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau described the incident as “deeply embarrassing,” and the Speaker of the House, Anthony Rota, resigned as a result.

The Jewish community in Canada has since called on the government to acknowledge and investigate other Nazi veterans.

Ukrainians served in the Soviet Red Army during World War II, but thousands fought for the Germans as part of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, also known as the Galicia Division.

Following the war, some of those Ukrainian soldiers emigrated to Canada.

A top civilian honour for outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the country was awarded to Mr Savaryn.