French-English Relations in the 1970s

1. French-English Relations in the 1970s • The October Crisis – aka the FLQ Crisis – 1970 • The Front de Liberation du Quebec (FLQ), was a Canadian separatist group founded in the 1960s, based in Montreal • The FLQ was a virtually unknown group of French Canadians who occasionally spoke of Marxist objectives (pro-working class), and of Quebec’s separation from Canada • FLQ was not afraid to resort to violence to achieve their goals; had numerous secret cells within Quebec; trained by revolutionaries including: • Cuban revolutionaries • Guerrilla training in “selective assassination” Palestine commandos • 1963-1970, 200 political actions, from bombings to bank hold ups • 3 deaths from bombings, 2 deaths from shootings • Targets: English-owned businesses, banks, McGill University, & homes of prominent English-Canadians • 1970, majority of FLQ was in jail

2. FLQ Crisis II • Kidnappings, Oct. 1970: • Oct. 5: Four men from a FLQ Liberation cell kidnapped the British Trade Commissioner James Cross at gunpoint in Montreal • Demanded a ransom of $500,000; transport to Cuba; can read the FLQ Manifesto in public; release of FLQ “political prisoners” who were jailed due to bombings • Oct. 10: Members from the Chenier cell kidnapped the Quebec Vice-Premier and Minister of Labour, Pierre Laporte • Laporte wrote a letter to the Premier of Quebec, Robert Bourassa (Liberal), regarding the search forhim…See text, page 173 (http://www.cbc.ca/player/Digital+Archives/ID/1559186184/)

3. FLQ Crisis III • October 17, 1970: • Laporte’s body was discovered in the trunk of a car. • FLQ referred to him as “Minister of unemployment and assimilation” • Reaction from Federal Gov’t: • PM Trudeau broadcast the FLQ Manifesto over the radio, and agreed to transport five FLQ terrorists to Cuba in exchange for Cross’ release • Cross was released, and the terrorists were allowed free passage into Cuba • Eventually returned to Canada and were given “light sentences” • 23 people went to prison as a result of the FLQ Crisis • First political kidnapping in Canadian history

4. The War Measures Act, 1970 • In response to the October Crisis, the Canadian government invoked the War Measures Act • This gave the government the power to take away certain civil liberties, the results included: • Thousands of searches made • 400 arrests made • Membership in FLQ = criminal • Political rallies were banned • Arrest, question, & detain suspect without charge for period of 90 days • WMA was invoked based on the belief that there was a widespread conspiracy to overthrow the government • “How far are you willing to go?” • “Just watch me…” -PM Trudeau • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd2Dssa43zI • 1:15:20 – 1:24:23

5. French-English Relations in the 1970s II • Bill 22, 1974: • Premier Robert Bourassa introduced Bill 22 • Made French the official language of Quebec, strengthened French in the workplace • Children had to pass an English proficiency test before being allowed to register at English schools in Quebec • Bourassa introduced Bill 22 as birth rates were decreasing in Quebec, and immigration was increasing – fear that French Language might disappear

6. French-English Relations in the 1970s III • The Parti Quebecois (PQ): • 1976, under the leadership of Rene Levesque the PQ defeated the Liberal government of Bourassa • Lévesque was a Liberal under PM Lesage, dealt with Hydro-Quebec, founded PQ in 1968 • The PQ was a non-violent separatist party that was dedicated to winning independence by following the rules of Canada’s political process

7. French-English Relations in the 1970s IV • Bill 101, 1977: • Bill proposed by Premier Levesque to replace Bill 22 • Bill 101 – known as the Charter of French Languages bill – required that French be the language of all Quebec governments, courts, and businesses. Commercial sign were to be displayed in French only • Prevented access to English schools – at least one parent would have to attended an English school in the past for admittance • Result: Backlash in Quebec and across Canada, many businesses packed up and left the province

8. Bill 101: Anti-constitutional? • 1988; Montreal store owner was charged with violating section 58 of Bill 101 • All outdoor commercial signs must be in French only • 1989; Supreme Court of Canada ruled that section 58 was anti-constitutional • Violated the right to freedom of expression • But, Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows for a government to pass a law that overrides certain parts of the Charter for up to 5 years • Known as the “Notwithstanding Clause” • Bill 178 was introduced (Bourassa term 2) following this to amend issues with Bill 101 • Commercial signs inside store = bilingual (French prominence), outside = French