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THE FLQ. The October Crisis and its affect on our culturally divided country. Who Or What Is The FLQ?. “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
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THE FLQ The October Crisis and its affect on our culturally divided country.
Who Or What Is The FLQ? • “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
Quiet Revolution • 1960 – 1966 • Led by Jean Lesage Premier of Quebec • Lesage fed the desires of Quebecers to gain special status within Confederation • Views of Quebecers became more nationalistic and secular • Politics in Quebec began to differentiate itself from the French Catholic Church • French Canadians became Quebecers • Beginning of the Separatist movement • Contributed to FLQ Crisis
OCTOBER CRISIS • Name given to the events which occurred in Quebec in 1970 • Included kidnapping of Canadian diplomats by members of the FLQ
The Kidnapping of James Cross • British Trade Commissioner • Kidnapped on October 5, 1970 by the “Liberation Cell” of the FLQ • Kidnapping left police with list of demands
THE DEMANDS • 1.End of police search • 2.Publication of an FLQ manifesto • 3.Rehiring of the Lapalme employees • 4.Liberation of all political prisoners (23 FLQ members) • 5.Denunciation of the informer who had led the police to the capture of a cell of the FLQ in June of 1970 • 6.$500 000 in gold • 7. 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 • Executed October 17 - strangled to death and dumped in the trunk of an abandoned car
Meeting the Demands • The Canadian government broadcasted the FLQ manifesto on October 8th, 1970 • Policemen lined the streets of Quebec cities • On October 15th, 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
WAR MEASURES ACT • Enforced on October 16th 1970. • 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”
ORGANIZATION OF THE FLQ • The organization of the FLQ was in cells • Members only concerned with their individual cells • If a member was caught they didn’t know the whole story • Each cell specialized in different tasks • The police didn’t know which cell had kidnapped the officials, making it harder to locate them.
Training of the FLQ • Some members trained in other countries in guerrilla warfare • Could hide in cities and attack in silence • Very tactical in combat approach • Also trained for tactical bombings and sniper like attacks with normal guns
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
Quotes “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