Trudeau’s been on my mind lately. Not the campaigning politician but his late father. Next week will mark the 45th anniversary of the FLQ crisis – the only time in our history the War Measures Act was declared in peacetime.
For those of you with dodgy or non-existent memories of this time, here’s a refresher. The Front de Liberation du Quebec, a group wanting separation from Canada, had from 1963 to 1970 set off in excess of 95 bombs, most of them in mailboxes in the wealthy area of Westmount, a suburb of Montreal. The worst blast hit the Montreal Stock Exchange on Feb. 13, 1969, resulting in considerable damage and injuries to 27 people. Various other targets included the RCMP recruitment offices, railway tracks and military bases. By 1970, 23 members of the FLQ, including four convicted of murder, were guests of Her Majesty in various prisons.
Further arrests during the early part of the year brought to light at least two kidnapping plans – one of the Israeli consul and one of the U.S. consul.
While neither of those crimes occurred, on Oct. 5, British trade commissioner James Cross was abducted from his home. Thugs posing as deliverymen took Cross at gunpoint. The kidnappers demanded authorities exchange Cross for what they termed “political prisoners” and a CBC broadcast of the FLQ Manifesto. And although the ransom letter was the same as one found in the plans to take the U.S. consul, the connection wasn’t made initially.
Oct. 8, the Manifesto was broadcast in all French and English speaking media outlets in Quebec.
Oct. 10, the Quebec minister of labour, Pierre Laporte, was grabbed by the FLQ from his front lawn.
Various events happened next. The CBC broadcasted a letter from captive Laporte to Premier Robert Bourassa. Federal troops patrolled Montreal. The FLQ named a lawyer to negotiate the release of Laporte and Cross. And all across Canada we held our breaths as the mind-boggling drama unfolded before our very eyes.
Oct. 13, Prime Minister Trudeau was challenged on the military presence. When asked how far he would go, the reply was a terse, “Just watch me.”
Ugly scenes followed. A labour leader announced that support for the FLQ was on the upswing, declaring, “More boys are ready to shoot members of Parliament than there are policemen.” Visions of insurrection in Quebec frightened Canadians.
Oct. 16, Bourassa requested emergency powers to “apprehend and keep in custody” individuals. This resulted in the War Measures Act. Several politicians denounced the Act, calling it an excessive move, one that curtailed too many freedoms for Canadians and one that gave too much power to police.
Oct. 17, Laporte’s body was found near the Saint-Hubert Airport. He was strangled. Fears mounted for the safe return of Cross.
Dec. 4, Cross was finally released. In exchange, five kidnappers and one of their wives were given safe passage to Cuba with Fidel Castro’s approval.
Could this happen again? How would we deal with it? Given our preoccupation with security, these are questions to ponder on your trip to the ballot box Oct. 19.
