2. Quebec Political Climate
Liberals (Bourassa) – wanted
federalism, but more powers for
provinces
Parti Quebecois (Levesque) –
Quebec should have more nationalist
social, cultural and economic reforms
and sovereignty-association – meant
independence for QC, but close
economic ties to Canada
3. 1970 Provincial Election
Liberals won a
majority
PQ only won 7 /
108 seats, but
25% of popular
vote for French
Canadians
4. The October Crisis
Front de liberation du Quebec (FLQ)
radical separatist group in 1960s, responsible
for bombings that killed 5 people
5 October 1970 – FLQ kidnapped James
Cross (British Trade Commissioner)
for his return, they demanded cash,
release of their members from prison and
a publication of their manifesto which
called for the independence of Quebec
5. October Crisis
5 days later, Pierre Laporte (Quebec
Cabinet minister) was also kidnapped
by the FLQ as further leverage for
demands
Other FLQ members organized
strikes and demonstrations
15 October – Federal government
sent in heavily armed soldiers to
occupy Montreal
6. FLQ Crisis
16 October –
Trudeau used the
War Measures Act
(scandalous during
Peace time) to deal
with a suspected
uprising caused by
the FLQ
“Just Watch me”
7. War Measures Act
Act allowed government to detain
anyone seen to be a threat
17 October – Laporte’s body was
found in a trunk of a car
December – James Cross found
(alive)
Laporte’s murderers found, tried,
convicted and jailed
8. Crises Backlash
many people questioned Trudeau’s
use of the Act, felt he was
overreacting, or looking for political
advantage
Bourassa admitted Act used to get
population to support authorities
rather than stop insurrection
Trudeau never apologized, stood by
idea he had stopped terrorism
