October Crisis
Though it sounds like a one-time event, the October crisis was a series of events triggered by many events and also led to many changes and acts in Canadian history. October crisis is associated with a nationalistic movement by the name Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) which was formed to advocate for socialism in Quebec, Canada. This movement used propaganda and guerilla war tactics to advocate for their cause. The October 1970 crisis by the FLQ drew the attention of almost everyone in Canada.
On October 5, 1970, James Cross Britain’s trade commissioner based in Montréal, Canada, was kidnapped. Another influential personality who was also captured on this day is Pierre Laporte, who was at the time the minister of Labor in Quebec. The capturing of these individuals led to negotiations and war between this group and police where the military was called to help keep law and order. The unfolding events acted to bring into play the events of the ‘war measure act’ that had resulted in a suspension of the citizens’ civil rights, albeit temporarily. Indeed the October crisis in Canada would impacts greatly on the country’s future.
Background
The activities of FLQ started in 1963 up to 1970. This involved detonating of over 95 bombs. They mainly targeted the Anglophone city of Westmount, an affluent neighborhood. FLQ bombing destroyed army installations, Police offices and railroad tracks in Montreal city Hall. The movement destroyed Police recruitment offices, railroad tracks and army installations. Their most memorable and largest attack was in February 13, 1969 on the Montreal Stock Exchange where 27 people were injured.
This terrorist gang caused panic within the public. They would target prominent politicians; they bombed the house of the Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau on September 28, 1969. They funded themselves through bank robberies and stealing dynamite from military and industrial sites. Before the crisis was over almost 23 suspects of the terrorist gang had been arrested. In addition, 4 of their members were also faced with a death sentence. A sawed off gun had been found with two members who were also arrested.FLQ members were also found with 140 kgs of dynamite in the same year June after police raided the small community of Prevost.
Who is FLQ?
Front de libération du Québec commonly known as FLQ in full Quebec Liberation Front. This was a paramilitary group active between 1963 and 1970. It was a nationalist movement which advocated for socialism in Quebec. They caused terror among residents to advocate for their cause. They called for war against their oppressors. Powerful movements in such countries as Algeria and China acted as a source of inspiration and influence to the members of the FLQ. There were also members of the movement who had been trained by the Palestine Liberation Movement in Jordan. They include Normand Roy and Michel Lambert. Others were taught by Georges Schoeters who was a socialist in Belgium.
As a result of the kidnapping of the labor minister in Quebec and James Cross, the FLQ asked for ransom in the form of demands that the provincial administration in Quebec and the government had to fulfill. These demands include the airing of its manifesto on television and the release of FLQ convicts. The manifesto was filled with hate speech and criticism against Canadian authority. This manifesto was aired on Radio-Canada on 10 October. This led to the minister of justice offering a safe passage abroad to the kidnappers in exchange for the hostage. Instead, FLQ kidnapped Pierre Laporte, Québec minister of labor and immigration.
Media Role on the Crisis
How the media covers news stories can shape society’s opinions about events. It has the power to prevent or promote war. The Canadian government recognized this and hence issued a memorandum governing how journalists cover events. The memorandum stated that there was public concern about the FLQ kidnappings and invoking of the War Measures Act. Hence journalists should be conscious of the high responsibilities they have to protect the integrity of the CBC and its program services in a period when information and opinion are so important to the community. Accuracy, impartiality, good judgment, and respect for the law were essential. CBC staff was also warned against taking of sides regarding the crisis as this had the potential to damage their reputation (Canadian Civil Liberties Association Papers 1).
Chronology of Events
February 26, 1970: A sawed off gun is found in a rented truck by police. Jacques Lancto is found with a press release in his pocket which states that Moshe the Israeli trade consul in Montreal had been kidnapped. Lancto is charged with conspiracy to kidnap. The two are released on bail after which they disappear (Belanger para. 3).
The police received information on activities of FLQ on June 21, 1970, they raid Prevost a cottage. At the cottage, leaflets purporting the kidnapping of Harrison Burgess, who was at the time the United States’ Consul-General in Canada, were recovered. The leaflets contained terms for ransom. Two women and four men are also found. According to Bélanger (2000), the charges made against them were still pending at the end of October crisis (Bélanger para. 4).
October 5, 1970 is the marked as the start of the crisis British Trade Commissioner (James Cross) is kidnapped. The abductors are identified through ransom notes received by members of FLQ. Amongst the names that were contained in the note are those of Jacques Cossette-Trudel, his wife, Louise Lanctot, Jacques Lanctot, Marc Carbonneau, Pierre Seguin as well as one other unnamed individual. At this point, there were a number of demands that were already being made. These demands included the release of 23 “political prisoners”, payment of $500,000 in gold, the broadcast and the publication of the FLQ manifesto, publication of the names of the police informants of terrorist activities, an aircraft to take the kidnappers to a safe haven in Cuba or Algeria, the rehiring of the Lapalme postal truck drivers and cessation of all police search activities (Bélanger para. 4).
Québec government and federal government declare on October 6, 1970 that they will make joint decisions. Some of the country’s newspapers publish the manifestos of FLQ.
October 8.1970: On this day, the manifesto of the FLQ was read on Radio Canada by Gaetan Montreal. Concessions advice was also offered to the FLQ. This was in addition to the proposed support By Claude Ryan for what was at the time regarded as a conciliatory position.
October 10, 1970: The Chenier cell of the FLQ kidnapped Quebec Minister of Labor Pierre Laporte (Munroe para. 3). This is because the Prime minister had refused to release FLQ members on safe conduct out of the country one before the kidnapping of the labor minister.
Laporte pleads for his life through a letter to Premier Bourassa (Munore para. 11) Laporte says that he has responsibilities for his immediate family and his brother’s family.
October 12, 1970: The FLQ gives conditions that the government releases 23 political prisoners with safe conducts out of the country in order for the 2 hostages be freed. Treasurer for the Liberal Party of Quebec, is chosen negotiate with Robert Lemieux, a representative of the FLQ Soldiers are dispatched at Ottawa to protect the citizens.
October 13, 1970: Robert’s negotiations fail. There is pressure on the government to yield to demands of FLQ in order for the hostages to be released. The prime minister declares the famous statement, “Just watch me.” This was after he was asked how far he would go to end the crisis. He further added, “I think the society must take every means at its disposal to defend itself against the emergence of a parallel power which defies the elected power in this country” (Resnick 49).
October 14, 1970: on this day, special meeting was convened by the cabinet. The main agenda of the meeting was to deliberate on whether or not war measures would be adopted and if so, how the unfolding situation would be handled. The citizens are scared because of rumors circulating about arms caches and bomb scares.
October 15, 1970: The authorities worry about what they saw as support for FLQ when 3000 students hold a rally asking the government to negotiate with the kidnappers. The government responds by offering the release 5 members eligible for parole. This is on condition that the hostages are safely returned; the kidnappers would also be offered a safe conduct out of Canada (Rotstein 3).
October 16, 1970, the crisis seemed to be out of hand prompting the prime minister to declare the War Measures Act imposition. He announced that he saw this step necessary because of conclusive evidence of insurrection. There were objections to this announcement. The NDP leader, T. C. Douglas, felt that the government had overreacted saying it is using, “a sledgehammer to crack a peanut” (Bantjes 201).
The body of Pierre Laporte was found in the car trunk parked at the airport in St.-Hubert, Quebec on October 17, 1970. Over 250 labor leaders, entertainers and writers are arrested in Quebec. Among those who were arrested were entertainers, laborers as well as writers within the Quebec province. This happened just hours after the War Measures Act is announced. The kidnappers suspend the death sentence against James cross indefinitely. On October 20, 1970 the late Labor minister, Pierre Laporte is buried. October 23, 1970 more members of FLQ are arrested this include Francis Simard, Bernard Lortie and Jacques Rose. October 26, 1970 the detainees are allowed to seek legal for the first time since the time War Measures Act was invoked (Tetley para. 2).
November 2, 1970: it was announced that the government would be giving away a reward of $ 150,000 to individuals who were willing to surrender information to the government regarding the kidnappers. This reward was a joint effort between on the one hand, the provincial administration ni the city of Quebec and on the other hand, the Canadian government.
Public Order Temporary measure act 1970 replaces the War measures act.The house of commons approves the new regulation. An opinion poll conducted indicated that over 84% approved the government’s use of War measures act to bring and end to the crisis.
War Measures Act
This was an act, adopted in 1914, that allowed the Canadian government to use emergency powers when an act to confer extraordinary powers upon the Governor in Council in the event of “war, invasion or insurrection, real or apprehended” (Bantjes 203). It also limited a citizen’s civil rights. It was first used during World War I and thereafter in World War II. The police would arrest without the need of an arrest warrant. This act also allowed military deployed in other areas of the world to recall to Canada.
The Prime Minister’s Response on the Crisis
War measures act was used to end the crisis. This act allows the state to suspend civil rights in order for law and order to prevail when it deems necessary. It is used in circumstances such as insurrection, war whether apprehended or real. This declaration came after a reported dared the Prime minister to say what he would do regarding the crisis Tim Ralfe, a Canadian journalist, who provoked the Prime minister to make the famous statement,” Well, just watch me” A statement which will be remembered in Canada’s political history. Trudeau also referred FLQ members as weak kneed people who cause the people bleeding hearts hence there was need to keep law and order in the society.
The war measures act was supported by Canadians which was indicated by opinion polls. The French speaking 86% and English speaking 89% supported the use of this act. The event that followed was deployment of the military to guard the country especially the vulnerable points and any prominent individual whose life was at risk. Though the War Measures Act was used to end the crisis, incidences of abuse of this act were reported. Amongst those who complained of harassment included prominent intellectuals and artists who were also close to Quebec’s sovereign movement.
Detainees were allowed to seek legal counsel.Their complaints were heard by the Quebec Ombudsman, Louis Marceau. Following the complaints made to the Ombudsman, an agreement was arrived at that the Quebec government would compensate individuals who had been arrested unjustly. After the crisis John Turner who was Minister of Justice of Canada made a report.It concluded that 497 arrests had been made with 435 people released. 62 people were charged however 32 of them remained in custody because their charges were serious. The Quebec court denied them bail.
Conclusion
The October crisis was a very stressful event that Canadians or any other country would never want to experience. In any crisis priority should be on the safety of the ordinary citizen. Since desperate situations call for desperate measures when an act such as the War measures act is invoked care should be taken so that human rights are not abused by police and military.
Works Cited
Bantjes, Rod. “Social Movements in a Global Context: Canadian Perspectives.” Ontario: Canadian Scholars Press, 2007. Print.
Bélanger, Claude. “Chronology of the October Crisis, 1970, and its aftermath.” Marianopolis College. 2000. Web.
Canadian Civil Liberties Association. “Memorandum to all staff- CBC Policy in Matters of Public Controversy.” 1970. Web.
Munroe, Susan. “October Crisis: Timeline Key Events in the October Crisis in Canada” 2010. Web.
Resnick, Phillip. The masks of Proteus: Canadian reflections on the state. Quebec: McGill-Queen’s Press, 1997. Print.
Rotstein, Abraham. “The October Crisis, 1970.” University of Toronto Press 2008. Web.
Tetley, William. “The October crisis, 1970: an insider’s view.” McGill University. 2010. Web.