The Victoria Cross, which is Canada’s highest military honor, has not been bestowed upon a Canadian soldier since the conclusion of the Second World War. A petition presented to the House of Commons aiming to address this matter has garnered over 16,000 signatures. The petition, championed by Nipissing-Timiskaming Liberal MP Pauline Rochefort, is in support of Pte. Jess Larochelle, an Afghanistan veteran from her constituency who is widely regarded as a top contender for the Victoria Cross.
During an incident on October 14, 2006, Larochelle valiantly defended against a Taliban assault despite sustaining severe injuries including a broken back and detached retina. Positioned at an observation post in Pashmul, west of Kandahar City, Larochelle bravely confronted a Taliban unit armed with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms. Despite losing consciousness briefly, he effectively repelled the enemy utilizing a machine gun and later a rocket launcher, thwarting an insurgent force of 20 to 40 individuals.
Although Larochelle was posthumously honored with the Star of Military Valour, the second-highest bravery award in Canada, he never received the Victoria Cross. Notably, since 1945, no Canadians have been awarded the British Victoria Cross for acts of valor. Mike Harrison, a retired Royal Canadian Air Force captain from North Bay and a member of the Valour in the Presence of the Enemy group, has been advocating for the recognition of Larochelle with the Victoria Cross since 2021.
Harrison highlighted that while other Allied nations have awarded their highest distinctions for Afghanistan service, including Victoria Crosses from Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, Canada is yet to bestow its equivalent. He emphasized the disparity in recognition, citing the disproportionately high casualty rate among Canadian troops in Afghanistan compared to their American counterparts, who were awarded the Medal of Honor for their service.
The House of Commons petition urges the government to establish an independent committee to review cases of Afghanistan veterans meeting Victoria Cross criteria. Rochefort confirmed that the petition has surpassed the required threshold for a government response, expected within 45 days. This petition marks the latest effort to reform the Victoria Cross award process, following previous unsuccessful attempts by members across various political parties, signaling a bipartisan push for recognition of deserving veterans.