The FLQ and the October Crisis Front de Liberation du Quebec (Quebec Liberation Front)

Review The Great Darkness The Quiet Revolution Bi and Bi “Vive Le Quebec Libre”

The Official Languages Act After the Bi and Bi Commission of 1963, the Official Languages Act was passed in parliament in 1969 making English and French Canada’s two official languages While seen as very important in Quebec, less important outside of it. Even today, a poll, conducted in 2000, shows that more than half of Canadians outside Quebec believe that too much effort has gone into promoting bilingualism. By contrast, only 26% of Quebecers shared this view.

Separatism “Maitres Chez Nous” Increasing nationalist sentiment in Quebec Liberal Party = federalists Union Nationale, Parti Quebecois = nationalists

Machine Gun Molly Monica Proietti Married at 17 in 1956, divorced 5 years later with 2 kids Led an impoverished life in Montreal’s red light district Robbed banks Modern day Robin Hood Machine Gun Molly – Monica Proietti Monica Proietti was a Montreal bank robber and folk hero known as Machine Gun Molly. Proietti reflected much of Quebec society of the period. She came from a poor Montreal family, she was disillusioned and, like many Québécois (although Proietti was Italian) she felt rejected by the rich Montreal English. At 17 years old in 1956, she married, and five year later, she was divorced with two kids. Leading a desperate, impoverished life in Montreal’s red light district (…her apartment was insulated with cardboard…), Proietti joined many in her family in robbing banks (…her grandmother served time in jail for receiving stolen goods and reportedly ran a school for crime for the neighbourhood children…). Proietti held up more than 20 banks stealing over $100,000. Barely over 1.5 m tall and weighing less than 60 kg, she was an improbable crime boss. Yet to many poor people in Montreal, Proietti was a modern day Robin Hood giving money generously to the people in her neighbourhood. On 19 September 1967, she died in a shoot-out with Montreal police after a wild, guns-blazing, high-speed chase through the streets of the city's north end.

The Front de Liberation du Quebec Separatist Group Active between 1963 and 1970 Considered a terrorist group Took credit for 160 violent actions including bombings, bank robberies, kidnappings Separatism in Quebec comes from the threat of cultural assimilation (french into english) also a difference in cultural, social and political values

The Less-Than-Quiet Revolution 1963 – bombs exploded in English-speaking areas of Montreal killing one and maiming another 1969 – bombs exploded at Montreal Stock Exchange maiming 27

The October Crisis October 5, 1970: the FLQ kidnaps James Richard Cross (British Trade Rep), October 8, 1970: the FLQ releases a manifesto October 10, 1970: FLQ kidnaps Pierre Laporte (Quebec Cabinet Minister)

The FLQ Manifesto On 8 October 1970, the FLQ Manifesto was broadcast on CBC Radio. The FLQ demands included: releasing 23 "political prisoners" providing $500,000 in gold broadcasting and publishing the FLQ manifesto publishing the names of police informants in Quebec providing an aircraft to take the kidnappers to Cuba or Algeria rehiring of the Lapalme postal truck drivers stopping all police search activities Listed on the radio so that the public was aware. What does this mean?

“Just Watch Me” October 13, 1970 – Pierre Trudeau is met by a reporter on the steps of Parliament and is asked about the situation in Quebec When asked how far he would go to protect the safety of the people of Quebec he answered “Just Watch Me”

The War Measures Act October 16, 1970: Robert Bourassa, new premier of Quebec, and the mayor of Montreal request that the federal government enact the War Measures Act First time it was enacted during peacetime (only time since) Bourassa was a nationalist – thought Quebec’s place was with Canada in a December 1970 Gallup Poll, it was noted that 89% of English-speaking Canadians supported the introduction of the War Measures Act, and 86% of French-speaking Canada supported its introduction. 

Under the War Measures Act 8000 soldiers sent into Quebec to guard public buildings Almost 500 people arrested or detained by the police

The October Crisis October 17, 1970: FLQ calls Quebec radio stations to say that Pierre Laporte was executed Laporte’s body is found in the trunk of a car

The October Crisis November 6, 1970: Bernard Lortie is arrested for the kidnapping and murder of Lapointe December 4, 1970: After being held hostage for 62 days, James Cross is released January, 1971: military withdrawn from Quebec

The National: October 7, 1990 http://www.cbc.ca/player/Digital+Archives/Wa r+and+Conflict/Civil+Unrest/ID/1559977962/

The War Measures Act “Everyone arrested under the War Measures Act was denied due process. Habeas corpus (an individual’s ancient right to have a judge confirm that they have been lawfully detained) was suspended. The Crown could detain a suspect for seven days before charging him or her with a crime. In addition, the attorney general could order, before the seven days expired, that the accused be held for up to 21 days. The prisoners were not permitted to consult legal counsel, and many were held incommunicado.” When is it appropriate? Split the class in half and have them argue the merits of WMA and the drawbacks

Rene Levesque Leader of the Parti Quebecois, the provincial political party Sympathetic to the FLQ Linked nationalism to causes such as feminism to bolster support Decreased tuition fees Proposed a referendum PQ wins the 1976 election

Bill 22 – The Official Language Act Before Robert Bourassa leaves office, in 1974 his government passes Bill 22 This made French the sole official language of Quebec workplaces Limited the number of students in anglophone schools Trudeau called this a “slap in the face” to bilingualism Nationalists felt that it wouldn’t help immigration, english-speaking population thought it didn’t take the current population into consideration

Bill 101 – Charter of the French Language Premier Levesque passes this controversial Bill into law in 1977 Gave fundamental rights to communicate in French in places of business, consumers to receive their information in French, children to be taught in French Controversial because it limited the number of anglophone students 1988: Supreme Court found it unconstitutional to only have signs in French. Criticized in the 1990s as it was used to make all signs in Quebec french-only   those in Quebec whose sole native language was English dropped from 789,000 in 1971 to 575,555 in 2006