Citations

1

"Further Reading: October Crisis." History of Rights. Web. 23 May 2012. http://www.historyofrights.com/reading_flq.html.

 

2 

"The October Crisis." The October Crisis. Web. 23 May 2012. http://www.histori.ca/peace/page.do?pageID=342.

3

"October Crisis - Readings - Quebec History." October Crisis - Readings - Quebec History. Web. 23 May 2012. http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/readings/october.htm.

4Radio-Canada. "The October Crisis." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 04 Oct. 2010. Web. 23 May 2012. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2010/10/04/f-october-crisis-timeline.html.

5
"War Measures Act." - The Canadian Encyclopedia. Web. 23 May 2012. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/war-measures-act.

How Did the Crisis Benefit and Affect Canada?

The October Crisis benefited Canada and affected Canada in several major ways. One example is that Quebec did not become its own independent country, and the Quebec Left wing parties lost a lot of support. A few other benefits and reasons why it affected Canada was that the Crisis was one of Canada's first real terrorist acts, it was also the first domestic use of the War Measures Act (which lead to improving the entire act), and finally, it was one of Pierre Trudeau's well known accomplishment.

Since the FLQ was a political-left wing party, the events of the Crisis caused many Canadians to lose support for the FLQ after the kidnappings and various attacks. Since the October Crisis was one of Canada's first real terrorist attack, the government learnt more on how to prevent the same events from happening in the future. In addition, Prime Minister Trudeau gained support from many Canadians for the way he handled the entire October Crisis. Trudeau also initiated the War Measures Act during the Crisis to help end it, which led to the creation of the Emergencies Act, which was a more limited and refined version of the War Measures Act. The October Crisis benefitted Canada greatly.

The End of the Crisis

During the month of November, the Canadian government offered cash rewards for anyone with information on the where-abouts of the FLQ. Even though they were unsuccessful, on November sixth, police Raided Chernier Hall and arrested several members of the FLQ. On December third, the police found where James Cross was being held captive, and offered safe passage to Cuba for the culprits in return for the release of Mr.Cross. The members of the FLQ that were sent to Cuba were exiled for life.

The War Measures Act Put Into Action

On October fifteenth, the Army was invited into Quebec to help the local police. On October 16, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau initiated the War Measures Act. This Act limits the freedom of Canadians during war, invasion or insurrection [5]. The Act was used in Quebec during the October Crisis when a state of insurrection occurred. One day later, the body of Pierre Laporte was found dead, in the trunk of a car at an airport in St-Hubert.

The Second Kidnapping

Just two days after the FLQ Manifesto was broadcasted on CBC radio on October tenth, the Chernier Cell of the FLQ kidnapped the Minister of Labour, Pierre Laporte [4]. On October eleventh, Premier Bourassa recieved a letter from Laporte, begging for his life.

FLQ Manifesto

On October sixth, 1970, the FLQ Manifesto was published in a few newspapers. The organisation was displeased, and they threatened to kill James Cross if their Demands were not met [3]. On October eigth, the FLQ Manifesto was read on CBC radio.

The First Kidnapping

On October fifth, 1970, the British Trade Commissioner James Cross was kidnapped [2] by the notorious, French-Canadian terrorist group the FLQ. James Cross was kidnapped at his residence in Mount Royal, at gunpoint in Montreal, Quebec, by the Liberation Cell of the FLQ. For the Trade Commissioner's return, the FLQ demanded the release of twenty-three FLQ members in prison, five-hundred thousand dollars in gold, and the broadcast & publication of the FLQ Manifesto. After the kidnapping, the police immediately ordered one of the largest manhunts in history.

The FLQ

Before the crisis began, there were more than 160 attacks by the socialist French group, the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ). The FLQ was divided ino various cell divisions, allthough there were no more than 35 members in the entire group. The FLQ was a far left-wing Québécois nationalist paramilitary group in Quebec, but it was regarded as a terrorist group because of their violent actions. The FLQ was active between 1963 and 1970, where 1970 was the climax of the group's activities. Out of all the 160 attacks, eight people were killed, and countless civilians were injured. In addition, the FLQ was responsible for the bombing of the Montreal Stock exchange in 1969.

October Crisis Summary

The October Crisis started on October 5, 1970 when the British Trade Commissioner was kidnapped by a independent, socialist Quebec organisation. During the 1960's, this same group was responsible for over 200 terrorist attacks, but the climax of all the attacks were the kidnappings in the October Crisis. [1] A few days after the first kidnapping, the French organisation kidnapped yet another victim, only this time it was the Quebec Minister of Labour.These events later on helped to define Canada.