Should Canadians who fought in Afghanistan be considered for the Victoria Cross? One MP thinks so
Retired lieutenant-general Omer Lavoie, who led the counterattack that day and wrote a citation for Larochelle, remembers well what happened when the platoon came under fire.
Article content
'Two soldiers were killed almost immediately based on explosions from the rocket-propelled grenades,' he said.
Article content
Larochelle was struck with shrapnel in the back and neck as he defended the strategic position. He remained in his position with a broken back, firing handheld rocket launchers and a machine-gun at the attacking insurgents.
Article content
'There's no doubt in my mind, having seen it first hand, that his immediate actions, fighting while being wounded, certainly cracked the momentum of that Taliban attack and bought us time to counterattack,' Lavoie said.
Article content
'Incredibly, he did this while being pretty seriously wounded.'
Article content
Larochelle was awarded the Canadian military's second-highest honour, the Star of Military Valour, in 2007. He died in 2023 at age 40.
Article content
Moncur pushed in 2021 for a review of Larochelle's actions. He said he wants to press the case for a wider review under Prime Minister Mark Carney's government.
Article content
He said Ottawa should consider new evidence indicating that Larochelle had volunteered for the assignment.
Article content
'They knew an attack was coming and he put his hand forward and volunteered to man that observation post instead of being ordered to man it,' he said. 'So, that is just a perfect recipe for a Victoria Cross and I don't think anybody could convince me otherwise.'
Article content
A motion by former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole in 2022 sought to press the government to launch a military honours review panel. It failed in the House of Commons when Liberals opposed it.
Article content
'The continued inaction on this issue by the Liberal government speaks for itself and veterans are fed up,' Conservative veterans affairs critic Blake Richards said in an emailed statement.
Article content
'Conservatives will continue to advance the case for Jess Larochelle to be awarded the Victoria Cross and will always stand with Canada's veterans to ensure that our heroes and their sacrifice for our country are not forgotten.'
Article content
The Department of National Defence did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.
Article content
Ottawa has said that the system for awarding national honours is designed to be insulated from political influence and public pressure campaigns.
Article content
'To ensure fairness and that honours were awarded according to the appropriate criteria, National Defence conducted an in-depth review in 2012 of all of the 20 Stars of Military Valour that were awarded in relation to the Afghanistan campaign,' said a government response to a previous petition effort on Aug. 17, 2022.
Article content
'The review committee found that the process was fair and consistent, that none should have received a different decoration, and that all awards respected the intent and criteria for the Star of Military Valour.'
Article content
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Canada recognizing statehood a 'significant step' to peace: Palestinian envoy to UN
Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations Riyad Mansour tells Power & Politics that he is 'delighted' by the decision by Canada and several other countries to recognize Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September, calling it an 'investment in peace' as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens.
6 hours ago
On emotional 4th anniversary of Taliban takeover in Kabul, Afghan refugees in Toronto reflect
Malalai Azimee remembers crossing a river and climbing a wall, feeling fearful with her three daughters by her side as she tried to reach officials at the airport and escape the Taliban regime in August 2021. Aug. 15 marks four years since the Taliban captured Afghanistan's capital city Kabul only hours after U.S. troops withdrew. Azimee is just one of many Afghans who found refuge in Toronto but now worry their families won't be afforded the same opportunity. The journey was full of fear, uncertainty, frustration, said Azimee, who was a social worker and women's rights activist before she fled. Once we arrived we felt safe. And finally we thought, 'we don't have to fear anymore, we are in safety now.' Canada welcomed over 55,000 Afghans between August 2021 and November 2024, according to the federal government (new window) . While Canada ended its years-long military mission in 2014, U.S. troops were in the country until 2020. Shortly after they left and the Taliban took control, then-immigration minister Marco Mendicino said the country would be accepting 20,000 Afghan refugees, 5,000 of whom were evacuated by the U.S. (new window) But, according to the federal government, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada isn't accepting any more applications (new window) — a tough reality for many like Azimee, who left behind her siblings and parents. She said she's praying for her family to come safely to live with her in Canada. Emotional anniversary for Afghan refugees Sajad Amini, co-president of the Afghan Students' Association at the University of Toronto — which strives to create a safe and welcoming space for other Afghan students — also fled after the Taliban takeover. He says this anniversary is emotional. I was there when the government collapsed, he said. I'm very worried about those Afghans who still remain under the rule of [the] Taliban. Amini's family is currently in Pakistan, where he says they live in fear of deportation. And while he's grateful he settled in Toronto, he doesn't think Canada is doing enough to help other refugees escape the regime. Honouring those sacrifices means standing with partners such as the journalists [and] civil rights activists who are now stuck … waiting for their sponsorship cases to be processed by the Canadian government, Amini said. A spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said the federal government has helped more than 59,000 Afghans come to Canada since the fall of Kabul in August 2021 though its Afghan Resettlement initiative, a series of special measures aimed at protecting some of the most vulnerable people in Afghanistan. Although intake for these specific programs is now closed, IRCC continues to prioritize processing of eligible applications already received, the spokesperson said. Enlarge image (new window) Sajad Amini, co-president of the Afghan Students' Association at the University of Toronto — which strives to create a safe and welcoming space for other Afghan students — fled after the Taliban takeover. He says this anniversary is emotional. Photo: CBC / Talia Ricci Giving back to the country Azimee arrived in Canada in the last week of August 2021 and was greeted by Canadian Connections, a non-profit formed around the time of the takeover as a resettlement team for Afghan-Canadians. Now, Azimee works there. Such a welcome is key to successful integration and resettlement, according to Marcella Tomas, the non-profit's executive director. She says many Afghans arrived with nothing on their back. So the Canadian Connections volunteers went to Walmart, where they bought shoes, razors and any other essentials. Now, four years later, Tomas says she's seen some incredible success stories. When they come, the first thing they want to do is just give back to the country that's helped them, they want to find a job, she said. Enlarge image (new window) A proper welcome is key to successful integration and resettlement, according to Marcella Tomas, Canadian Connections' executive director. Photo: CBC / Talia Ricci 'Humanitarian crisis' unfolding, Afghan student says But back home, the situation continues to be dire. Since the Taliban took full control, the regime has continuously repressed human rights. Last year, the Islamic fundamentalist group closed all national and foreign non-governmental groups in Afghanistan (new window) that employ women in a continued effort to restrict Afghan women from working (new window) . In 2022, the Taliban also ordered (new window) that Afghan women wear all-covering burkas in public and decreed women must be accompanied by a man of their family whenever they are out in public. WATCH | Advocates worry as Canada quietly shutters Special Immigration Measures program : A humanitarian crisis is unfolding right before our eyes, says Amini. Girls are denied access to basic rights, they don't have access to school, work and even public life, he said. Afghanistan was once my home, Amini said. We need to do our advocacy work and hopefully one day we can do something for … our country. Gabriela Silva Ponte (new window) · CBC News · Journalist Gabriela Silva Ponte has been with CBC Toronto Local News since January 2025, at first in an internship capacity and afterwards as an Editorial Assistant. Previously, she worked in Portuguese media, CBC Dragons' Den and her university's school newspaper and radio station. She graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University with a Bachelor of Journalism and minors in Criminology and Politics. You can reach her at With files from Talia Ricci
CTV News
9 hours ago
- CTV News
The Taliban registers 1,800 unemployed Afghan refugees for jobs in Qatar
Men wait in line to register for a Qatar work visa for unemployed Afghans expelled from neighbouring countries, outside a registration center in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday Aug. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai) ISLAMABAD — The Taliban on Wednesday registered 1,800 unemployed Afghans expelled from neighboring countries for the chance to work in Qatar in the latest round of a labor agreement with the Gulf nation, a Labor Ministry spokesman said. The program is aimed at easing unemployment in Afghanistan, and the Taliban has said talks are also underway to send labor to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Turkey, and Russia. Last month, 3,100 Afghans were registered for jobs in Qatar, including in the food and hospitality industries. Wednesday's one-day registration period was open only to Afghans expelled from Iran and Pakistan, and took place in four major cities. At least two million Afghans have left Iran and Pakistan this year after both governments launched separate campaigns to expel foreigners they said were living there illegally. They deny targeting Afghans, but most of those forcibly returned are Afghan. People with refugee certificates were able to visit registration centers in Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, and Nangarhar for the chance to work in Qatar, Labor Ministry spokesman Samiullah Ibrahimi said. 'These work visas cover 22 different job categories, and the 1,800 visas available are for these jobless Afghan returnees,' he said. Dozens of men waited in long lines outside a registration center in Kabul. Poyan Ahmadi, who left Iran, said he wanted the Taliban government to talk to other countries. 'Here in Afghanistan, there is no work, and there is a shortage of job opportunities.' The Associated Press
