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