In 1970, he was the editor-in-chief of The Varsity, the University of Torontos student newspaper. The Conversation spoke to professor Bdard about the October Crisis. Last year, I got my hands on a list from the then-deputy attorney general of Qubec, Gilbert Morier, who would later become a judge. We must keep in mind that the student movement was very different from the trade union movement, which had several decades of history behind it, with its traditions, its structures, its assemblies, its elections and its recognized leaders. Sign up for our email newsletter and get our news and analysis delivered on the regular. Welcome to The Globe and Mails comment community. On Oct. 17, the FLQ shocked the country by taking the life of Mr. Laporte and depositing his body in the trunk of a car. NDP leader Tommy Douglas led the way in voicing his opposition, when 12,500 troops rolled into Qubec on October 167,500 in Montral alone. The War Measures Act (French: Loi sur les mesures de guerre; 5 George V, Chap. In the late 1960s, UGEQ itself was considered too bourgeois and hierarchical, and was scuttled in favour of involvement in different forms of organizations, such as neighbourhood citizens committees. Browse War Measures Act news, research and analysis from The Conversation Menu Close. Anyone who thinks there was no violence involved in those arrests should listen to her story. Just what was the FLQ offering? He wanted to do intelligence work, to infiltrate the campuses. Its first page, shown here, includes a demand that their manifesto appear on the front page of Quebec's major newspapers. Bedard: Yes, they were essentially young people. They asked for special powers because, they said, if the situation spiralled out of control, they would be powerless to deal with it. Just watch him . It was only later that we learned of the excesses against people who had done nothing wrong. Hes never repeated that defence in French, however. But that was the night the federal government invoked the War Measures Act. Today, the consensus is less certain. Of course, he knows that the apology being sought wasnt for the kidnappers and murderers. Nobody in English Canada seemed to have run the manifesto, though it appeared in several Quebec papers. Three days later, on October 16, the Cabinet under his chairmanship advised the Governor General to invoke the War Measures Act at the request of the Premier of Quebec, Robert Bourassa, and the Mayor of Montreal, Jean Drapeau. That means: Comments that violate our community guidelines will be removed. Bdard: Yes, indeed, but its easy to say that 50 years later and I insist on that because its too easy to give lessons. Thank you for your patience. It is a time of reckoning, and many of the victims of the War Measures Act have been given a voice as the anniversary approached. Eric Kierans, another important minister in the Trudeau government, devoted several pages in his memoir to the October Crisis, referring to the use of the War Measures Act as a massive injustice. Describing the October 15 cabinet meeting when the decision was made to invoke the act, he recalled that Ontarios Premier John Robarts was calling for all-out war on the terrorists, while newspaper editorials were screaming for drastic action. The hysteria, he added, was inflamed and endorsed by statements made by fellow ministers, including Jean Marchand, Grard Pelletier and John Turner. That day, hundreds of people were arrested in the middle of the night. Photo courtesy of the Montreal Gazette. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. In the United States, African Americans were struggling for their civil rights and young people were very vocal in their opposition to the Vietnam war. University president Claude Bissell told us he had doubts about our editorial policy, but appreciated that publishing the manifesto was not necessarily a declaration of support for the FLQ. He recounted that on Oct. 15, 1970, a few hours before the War Measures Act was decreed, Premier Robert Bourassa met with the chiefs of the Montral police and the Sret du Qubec, the provincial force, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel where the government had decamped. The Conversation: What impact did these events have on this generation? Conversation CA-FR forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on articles. Apprehended insurrection was officially declared to exist in Quebec as of 15 October 1970 student Student protest Front Strikes of 1972 and the exile of his father s body was found in middle. 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