The October Crisis Pierre Trudeau, the FLQ and 1970 Quebec

PREAMBLE A violent separatist minority had been gaining momentum for years in Quebec Separatists demanded immediate and total independence for Quebec The Front de le Liberation de Quebec (FLQ) and the Armee de Liberation de Quebec (ALQ) were two such groups

FLQ VIOLENCE These two groups engaged in terrorist activities in order to try and force their agenda onto the government They exploded bombs in post offices, banks and mailboxes They robbed banks and army supply depots in order to fund their activities

Between there was a terrorist bombing in Quebec almost every 10 days. At least 1 person was killed and many were injured

THE OCTOBER CRISIS: 1970 October 5, 1970 – James Cross, British Trade Commissioner in Montreal is kidnapped by armed assailants

FLQ DEMANDS The FLQ claim responsibility and issue their demands Ransom Demand: –release of 23 FLQ prisoners held for bombings –$ in gold bars and transport to Cuba –publication of the FLQ Manifesto (statement of beliefs the Gov’t has 48 hours to comply or Cross will be killed

THE INITIAL GOV’T RESPONSE October 8 The Federal government refuses the demands, but allows the Manifesto to be read on television. The manifesto calls for a revolution in Quebec

…from the Manifesto “…When in fact we will always be the diligent servants and bootlickers of the big shots… We are all slaves until Quebecers, all of us, have used every means, including dynamite and guns to drive out these ‘big bosses’ of the economy and of politics…” This was read over the radio October 8, 1970

FLQ STRIKES AGAIN October 10 – Quebec Labour Minister Pierre Laporte is kidnapped by another group of FLQ members Fear is spreading and Quebec Gov’t officials, led by Premier Bourassa, protect themselves with armed guards and secure locations

THE GOV’T RESPONDS…AGAIN October 12 – The Federal Government places troops in positions around gov’t buildings and provides armed escorts to important officials There is growing fear as the RCMP is telling the gov’t that the FLQ has numerous weapons and explosives Fear of an armed revolution is rampant

WAR MEASURES ACT October 16, 1970 PM Pierre Trudeau invokes the War Measures Act in order to prevent what he believes is an “armed insurrection”

“JUST WATCH ME” Trudeau was approached by a CBC reporter, asking questions about the presence of armed military and policemen. Reporter: "Sir what is it with all these men with guns around here?“

Trudeau: “There's a lot of bleeding hearts around who don't like to see people with helmets and guns. All I can say is 'go ahead and bleed' but it's more important to keep law and order in this society than to be worried about weak-kneed people who don't like the looks of...“

Reporter: "At what cost? How far would you go? To what extent?" Trudeau: "Well, just watch me."

GOV’T POWER UNLEASHED The Act temporarily suspends civil rights in Canada: The FLQ is made illegal and bans political rallies. Any Canadian can be detained for up to 90 days. The police can arrest anyone merely for suspicion of being in the FLQ In total, more than 465 people are arrested by the police and the army, but are eventually all released

THE CLIMAX October 18 : Pierre Laporte’s body is found stuffed in the trunk of an abandoned car December 4: Police surround the house where the FLQ has been keeping James Cross prisoner A bargain is struck and Cross is exchanged for a flight to Cuba for his kidnappers December 28: Laporte’s killers surrender to police and are charged and convicted of murder THE FALL OUT

AFTERMATH The death of Laporte and the War Measures Act caused a backlash against the violent tactics of separatists The vast majority of both French and English Canadians agreed with how Trudeau had handled the situation –Many people felt that Trudeau had only done what was necessary (his record as an advocate for individual freedoms acted as a shield against criticism) However, both French and English Canadians became aware of the depth of division and realized that something had to be done This also spurred the movement among separatists to democratically and peacefully separate.