The October Crisis and its affect on our culturally divided country.

“The Front De Liberation Du Quebec.” They were a Terrorist group in Canada Separatists – believed in Quebec as a nation separate from Canada Responsible for More than 200 bombings Death of at least 5 people October, 1970 = October Crisis

 1960 – 1966  Led by Jean Lesage Premier of Quebec—wanted to modernize Quebec  Hydro Quebec  Programs to fund French Canada business  Took control of education from Catholic Church  Lesage fed the desires of Quebecers to gain special status within Confederation  Could opt out of federal gov't programs but still receive $  Views of Quebecers became more nationalistic and secular  French Canadians became Quebecers  Beginning of the Separatist movement  Contributed to FLQ Crisis

 Name given to the events which occurred in Quebec in 1970  Included kidnapping of Canadian diplomats by members of the FLQ

 British Trade Commissioner  Kidnapped on October 5, 1970 by the “Liberation Cell” of the FLQ  Kidnapping left police with list of demands

 1. End of police search  2. Publication of an FLQ manifesto  3. Liberation of all political prisoners (23 FLQ members) (23 FLQ members)  4. Denunciation of the informer who had led the police to the capture of a cell of the the police to the capture of a cell of the FLQ in June of 1970 FLQ in June of 1970  5. $ in gold  6. Safe-conducts out of the country.

Kidnapping of Pierre Laporte  Minister of Labour and Vice Premier of Quebec  Kidnapped on October 10, 1970 by the “Chenier Cell” of the FLQ  Wrote letter to Quebec Premier, Robert Bourassa, pleading for his life

 The Canadian government broadcasted the FLQ manifesto on October 8 th, 1970  Policemen lined the streets of Quebec cities  On October 15 th, Quebec government invited the Canadian Armed Forces to Quebec to assist the local police  The police search did not end and political prisoners were never released

 Enforced on October 16 th  Invoked to find and stop FLQ members  Emplaced throughout all of Canada, but took action in Quebec  Police were to arrest those who were suspected of belonging to the FLQ or supported the FLQ through literature, posters, stickers, or pamphlets.  Outlawed FLQ  Suspended Civil Liberties  497 persons arrested, of whom 435 would be released, the other 62 were charged

Controversy of the War Measures Act  Jeopardized the civil rights of Canadian citizens  Police had power to arrest and put in detention on suspicion alone  Despite controversy 85% of Canadians agreed with invoking act  3 days before the act was invoked Trudeau was asked how far he was willing to go to stop the FLQ, he responded with: “JUST WATCH ME”

Response of FLQ?  Executed Pierre LaPorte October 17 - strangled to death and dumped in the trunk of an abandoned car an abandoned car

Meeting the Demands After Laporte’s Death  After the execution of Pierre Laporte, negotiations were reached between police and the FLQ  James Cross was released and 5 known members of the FLQ were flown to Cuba by Canadian Forces

The Capturing of the FLQ All 4 members of the FLQ’s Chénier cell were captured and charged with the kidnapping and murder of Pierre Laporte This included Paul Rose, Jacques Rose, Frances Simard, and Bernard Lortie

“We are going to win because there are more boys ready to shoot members of Parliament than there are policemen” ~Michel Chartrand, Radical Separtist and FLQ supporter “The Army occupies Quebec. It is unpleasant but undoubtedly necessary in times of crisis.” ~ René Lévesque, Future Premier of Quebec