On this day, 1969 - Trudeau defends calling in the military after

[polly7]

the kidnapping of James Cross.

http://archives.cbc.ca/on_this_day/10/13/

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/

"Just watch me'
Broadcast Date: Oct. 13, 1970

Canada looks more like a police state than a democracy eight days after the kidnapping of British Trade Commissioner James Cross. On Parliament Hill a reporter confronts Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau: "What is it with all these men and guns around here?" By calling in army tanks and men in full gear, Trudeau boosted national security. But the military's presence makes some Canadians feel a whole lot less secure. How far will the prime minister extend law and order? Just watch him.

Though most people are familiar only with its punchline, CBC reporter Tim Ralfe's interview with the prime minister lasts seven and a half minutes. In this clip, Trudeau utters his most famous phrase about six minutes in.
Pierre Trudeau: 'Just watch me'

• Three days later Trudeau invoked the War Measures Act, giving police the right to arrest and detain people on suspicion alone.

• The act, created in 1914 for cases of war or national emergency, was repealed in 1985.

• Trudeau also outlawed the Front de libération du Québec and told police to arrest those with "extreme-left" literature, posters, stickers or pamphlets.

• Eighty-five per cent of Canadians agreed with invoking the act.

• Cabinet documents later revealed that Trudeau originally didn't want to invoke the War Measures Act. Then-Indian Affairs minister Jean Chrétien advised him to "act now, explain later."

• Trudeau changed his mind when he discovered the FLQ had two tons of dynamite to blow up Montreal buildings.

Pierre Trudeau: 'Just watch me'

Medium: Television

Program: CBC Television News

Broadcast Date: Oct. 13, 1970

Guest(s): Pierre Elliott Trudeau


Reporter: Tim Ralfe

[glarius]

1. What is never mentioned is they also kidnapped and KILLED Pierre LaPorte the Quebec gov't minister?

The overwhelming majority of Canadians agreed with Trudeau's actions. Why do so many who speak of this incident never mention the LaPorte murder?

[polly7]

3. You're right. I was too young to personally remember anything of it

and just stumbled across the article, but I did know of his murder and should have included it. What an awful time in our history.

http://archives.cbc.ca/war_conflict/civil_unrest/clips/1634/

http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/civil_unrest/topics/101/

(I don't know why these links won't work, but a search on the CBC digital archives page gets you there).

"Laporte
Broadcast Date: Oct. 12, 1980

In broad daylight, kidnappers with machine guns pull up to Quebec immigration and labour minister Pierre Laporte's front lawn in Saint-Lambert. They grab him while he plays football with his family, and shove him into the back seat of their car.
The incident escalates what becomes known as the “October Crisis.” French Canadian nationalists (the Front de libération du Québec - FLQ), had abducted British diplomat James Cross a week earlier, and now a Quebec minister.

This CBC radio clip reveals that Laporte was murdered, probably accidentally strangled, a week later.
FLQ kidnaps Pierre Laporte

• The FLQ Manifesto called for Quebec's non-democratic separation from Canada, brought about by acts of terror. From 1963-1970, the FLQ claimed responsibility for more than 85 bombs, killing six people.
• The Quebec government refused to accede to all FLQ demands. It did agree to broadcasting the FLQ Manifesto on Radio-Canada, and guaranteeing the kidnappers safe passage anywhere in the world. But it refused to free FLQ prisoners.

• Laporte was murdered Oct. 17, the day after the federal government applied the War Measures Act.
• Laporte was chosen because he signified the Liberal Party's right wing ideals. A famed reporter and parliamentary correspondent for Le Devoir, 1945-61, he was one of Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis' fiercest opponents, writing a book, The True Face of Duplessis.
• For more details, see the October Crisis in the CBC Archives.
FLQ kidnaps Pierre Laporte

[glarius]

6. I have been disgusted thru the years at the way Trudeau has been

characterized as a dictator for his actions at this time. Those of us who remember those times know he did the right thing and that the people of Quebec and the rest of Canada were with him all the way.
Remember how his body on the long train ride was so honoured as he crossed the country?

[Spazito]

2. I lived in Montreal at the time...

I remember military vehicles going down the streets and, to be honest, I was glad to see them. You never knew if one of the postal boxes could blow up near you.

The death and injuries caused by the bombings are not mentioned either, it is as if the FLQ did nothing wrong until the kidnappings and that is so wrong.

Few Canadians even know a man named Wilfred O'Neil, a 65 year old veteran was killed by one of their bombs and 27 people injured by another.

There seems to be a big attempt to re-write history to whitewash the FLQ it seems.

[polly7]

4. Wow, I didn't know it was that bad with all the other bombs.

It's hard to imagine anyone was against calling in the military during all of this. So sad for Mr. O'Neil and all those injured so senselessly.

[Spazito]

5. It really was a scary time in Quebec...

The military was not brought in until the kidnappings, until then it was considered a Quebec problem. The FLQ were a domestic terrorist organization by it's very definition.