THE RISE OF SEPARATISM

The Royal Commission, The Flag Debate, Bilingualism

and the October Crisis

LESTER PEARSON When Lester Pearson became

Prime Minister in 1963, French/English relations was the most important political issue in Canada

After a CN Rail scandal (where it was revealed that these was almost no French senior management in the Canadian Government), Pearson started the “Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism”

In 1964, Pearson granted Quebec the right to opt out of Federal Programs while receiving full compensation (Quebec could say no to a Canadian program but still receive the money for it)

THE FLAG DEBATE In 1965, Pearson attempted to introduce a new

Flag Pearson believed the “Red Ensign” only

represented British Canada and that we needed a new symbol that every Canadian could identify with

Thousands of proposals were sent to Pearson What followed was a furious debate in the House

of Commons In the End, the “Red Maple Leaf” design was

adopted However, the loss of the Red Ensign was

heartbreaking for many English Canadians – many felt Pearson had gone too far

PIERRE TRUDEAU After Pearson steps down, Trudeau

becomes Canada’s Prime Minister Trudeau is young, well spoken and

energetic He gains enormous popularity

(Trudeau Mania) Trudeau works for a “Just Society”

in Canada This means that all Canadians

should be equal – no special status for anyone

His policies create immediate conflict with most of Quebec

However, Trudeau does make Canada officially Bilingual to ensure the preservation of the French language

THE FLQ Meanwhile, in Quebec,

the situation became more desperate

A group calling themselves the “Front de Liberation du Quebec” (FLQ) started to blow up mailboxes in English neighborhoods in Montreal

Within Quebec, the FLQ gained support and were seen as freedom fighters

THE OCTOBER CRISIS On October 5, 1970 four

men from the FLQ abducted a British politician (James Cross)

They demanded $500,000 ransom and a declaration of beliefs read over the radio

On Oct. 10th, Pierre LaPort (A French Canadian politician) was also abducted

Trudeau reacted by sending in the military to guard Canadian politicians and landmarks

Just watch me!

THE OCTOBER CRISIS PART 2

The FLQ popularity soared during the Crisis and rallies filled arenas as FLQ lawyer Robert Lemieux promised to “overcome and conquer”

Seeing a possible revolution, Trudeau steps in a declares the “War Measures Act”

This allowed arrests and searches without warrant and imprisonment without arrest

The FLQ panic and kill Laport Jams Cross was released in

exchange for asylum in Cuba

THE OCTOBER CRISIS PART 3 After the death of Laport,

the FLQ lost its popularity After the October Crisis, the

FLQ was basically dead However, Trudeau’s

introduction of the War Measures Act was seen as an over-reaction and further proof of English Canada’s domination of Quebec

Although the violence was gone, separatist feelings were stronger than ever

KEY POINTS Pearson tries to solve the French English

Problem through the “Royal Commission for Bilingualism and Biculturalism,” and the new Flag

Trudeau makes Canada Bilingual but angers Quebec with his “Just Society” idea

The FLQ is a French Canadian Terrorist Group

They Kidnap politicians in the October Crisis

Trudeau uses the war measures act to stop them

The FLQ is dead but separatism lives on