before the House of Commons.<\/a><\/p>\nArticle content<\/p>\n
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The purpose of this petition is to create a committee, free of the government, to determine, case by case, the worthiness of military valour in regards to awarding a Victoria Cross.<\/p>\n
Rochefort released this statement after the event was completed in the nation\u2019s capital:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a moving day in Ottawa as soldiers who served in Afghanistan, and many military dignitaries with a connection to the honours already bestowed upon Restoule\u2019s Jess Larochelle, gathered in Ottawa. Among the guests of honour were Jess\u2019s mother Anna and brother Andrew, who received a standing ovation at the day\u2019s luncheon.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs petition e-6661 was read before the House of Commons, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Minister of National Defence David McGuinty stood and acknowledged the Larochelle family and the invited veterans in the gallery.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The statement continued with Rochefort describing what will come next. The Nipissing-Timiskaming MP thinks there is momentum towards getting this done.<\/p>\n
\u201cOverall, at events held during the day, there appeared to be receptivity to the formation of an independent review process for the late Private Larochelle and for others who acted with valour,\u201d says Rochefort.<\/p>\n
Canadians were awarded Victoria Cross medals in the Boer War and the First and Second World Wars through Britain, as Canada is part of the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n
Canada got its own version of the Victoria Cross in 1993 but haven\u2019t awarded a single one.<\/p>\n
Friends of Larochelle, who died in 2023, have been fighting for years to get him that level of recognition. Mike Harrison, an Afghanistan veteran himself, was in Ottawa to see the petition presentation in person. Harrison also attended a press conference where Rochefort talked about Larochelle and his heroics.<\/p>\n
\u201cCountless battles, countless acts of heroism, and they (the government of Canada) haven\u2019t done it. We believe it has been a bureaucratic process that has gotten in the way of awarding this,\u201d says Harrison.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe gave out the Victoria Cross in previous wars; who do we have that met that standard? What we are asking them to do is look at it (past cases), review and perhaps say, \u2018Maybe we got it wrong.\u2019 We believe that there is no logical person that goes through this process and finds at least 10 or 15 people in the last 100 years that deserve it and didn\u2019t get the medal,\u201d says Harrison.<\/p>\n
He called it a \u201cbeautiful day\u201d saying there were about 30 veterans and war widows on hand for the reading.<\/p>\n
Harrison also had praise for MP Rochefort after she read the petition in parliament.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe did an excellent job, spoke very clearly, and we were all proud in having her represent us. It puts the government on notice and they have 45 days to respond to our petition,\u201d says Harrison, who adds that various provincial governments are on board with this recognition process.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have Ontario, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia<\/a> on board. Newfoundland and Alberta have indicated they will support this, as well hundreds of towns, villages (community) associations,\u201d remarked Harrison, adding, \u201cIt is the will of the Canadian people to get this done.\u201d<\/p>\nArticle content<\/p>\n
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Mike Harrison and Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Pauline Rochefort in Ottawa celebrating the reading of the Military Honours Review petition. Photo by SuppliedArticle content<\/p>\n