In the fall of 1970, Canada had the worst crisis since the Second World War.
Oct. 5, 1970 - Four men posing as deliverymen kidnapped British trade commissioner James R. Cross in his Montréal residence.
It was later discovered that he was kidnapped by the FLQ. They had changed tactics to kidnapping instead of explosives. FLQ threatened to kill Cross unless the government complied with some demands:
1. Police must not conduct searches, investigations, or manhunts of any kind to find the kidnappers.
2. The FLQ manifesto must be on the front page of a Québec Newspaper and spoken on Radio-Canada.
3. Release of 23 political prisonners.
4. Plane or helicopter to Algeria or Cuba for all of the FLQ members.
5. $500,000 in gold.
6. The name and picture of the informant that ratted out the FLQ during the most recent wave.
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| Army sent into the streets of Montreal when the War Measures Act was invoked |
Trudeau and Premier Robert Bourassa played it down at first. Québec government played manifesto on Radio-Canada and conducted search for the kidnappers.
Oct. 10, 1970 - Pierre Laporte, Québec minister of labour and the government senior cabinet minister, is kidnapped while playing catch with his son.
Sent ripples of panic throughout Québec, and gave FLQ leverage and power. Feds sent in guards to protect politicians and important buildings. Trudeau saying he won't stop at anything with his famous quote,"Well, just watch me."
Oct. 15, 1970 - 3000 people gathered at Paul Sauvé arena to show support for separatism, and FLQ lawyer, Robert Lemieux fired them up.
Oct. 16, 1970 - Because of the strong recommendation from Bourassa, Trudeau invokes the War Measures Act, which marked the first time it has been used in peacetime. 405 people were arrested.
Oct. 17, 1970 - Police were lead to a car by an FLQ communiqué with Laporte's corpse in the trunk. First Canadian political assassination in 102 years when Thomas D'arcy McGee was killed.
Nov. 6, 1970 - FLQ hideout was found containing the four kidnappers of Laporte, but only Bernard Lortie was found and arrested.
Dec. 4, 1970 - After two months of captivity, James Cross is released in a deal that gives all of the kidnappers safe passage to Cuba, but they all come back to Canada to face their sentences.
Dec. 28, 1970 - The remaining three kidnappers charged with the murder of Laporte are found in a tunnel in a rural farm community.
The October Crisis has ended and it marks the complete destruction of French-English relations.
