The Saskatchewan Government wants to see the Victoria Cross awarded, something that hasn’t taken place since the end of the Second World War in 1945.

A motion was introduced in the legislature this week asking the Federal government to create an Independent Military Honours Review Board to review evidence which suggests a veteran has met the criteria to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

In a news release the government says actions like those of Jess Larochelle, who was gravely wounded during a Taliban attack in 2006 while deployed at an operating base in Kandahar Afghanistan, or by Master Warrant Officer Willie MacDonald (Ret), a Regina-born soldier who repeatedly exposed himself to intense enemy fire to assist wounded comrades while also serving in Afghanistan have both been suggested as worthy of consideration for the Canadian Victoria Cross.

In 2021 the Royal Canadian Legion also named Private Jess Larochelle as being a candidate for the country’s highest honour “for bravery, valour, self-sacrifice and devotion to duty when in the presence of an enemy.” He was previously awarded the Star of Military Valour, which is the second highest award for bravery.

The Victoria Cross was established in 1856 and has been awarded to over 80 Canadians. The Canadian Victoria Cross was established on 1 January 1993 and has not been awarded to any soldiers to date. The formation of a military honours review board would be tasked with reviewing and determining if several past cases would meet the criteria for the Canadian Victoria Cross.