War Measures Act & Trudeau

War Measures Act & Trudeau

"Just watch me", the phrase that shocked the whole of Canada.   Every Canadians were surprised at Prime Minister Trudeau's unyielding action, the War Measures Act, during the October Crisis.   Many people at the time criticized Trudeau saying he had gone too far, just over some minor FLQ terrorists in Quebec who infringed on Canada's freedom.   The Quebecois, who saw FLQ as patriots, blamed the government for ignoring the FLQ's demands.   Time has proved that Trudeau did just the right thing.   The War Measures Act successfully stopped a potential threat to Canada.
Unthinkable events happened in October 1970.   The FLQ kidnapped 2 members of the government.   First they kidnapped the British Trade Commissioner James Cross, then they kidnapped Quebec Minister of Labour Pierre Laporte one week later. (The Sun, October, 1970)   This crime was far different from any other crime that the FLQ had ever done before.   The FLQ were seen as patriot figures fighting for Quebec separatists.   Although the FLQ had done several bombing in mailboxes and buildings, they had not done real harm to anyone.   But this time they had done incredible damage to Canada's reputation on the international stage.   They kidnapped a foreign Trade Commissioner and a member of the Quebec Cabinet, an outrage that shouldn't had happened.   It was clear at the time that the Government wouldn't deal with the terrorists.
Separatism was the key issue during the October Crisis.   The FLQ was the most radical of all separatist movement.   Ever since the Conquest (Origins, Pg. 210) the Quebecois had had the idea of its uniqueness compare to other British colonies.   After the Quiet Revolution (Canada in a Changing World, Pg. 170) in the 60's more Quebecois became separatist.   Although Trudeau's government had given some special status to Quebec, many Quebecois still believed the separation of Quebec from Canada was the only way to protect its culture.   Under this kind of prospective, such a radical organization as the...