CRISIS IN QUEBEC
Canada in the 1970s
Introduction
• The 60’s unrest spilled into the 1970’s with great force-
especially in Quebec
• FLQ (Front de Liberation du Quebec)
• War Measures Act (PM Trudeau)
• Parti Quebecois elected into Power in Quebec
(Separatist)
Introduction
• 1971 Pm Trudeau officially adopted a policy of
multiculturalism (not assimilation)
• Just Society concept- new social programs- immigration
laws were amended to eliminate any racial discrimination
• Just Society had to respond to issues of equality of
women, Aboriginal peoples, immigrants, and
Francophone Canadians
Introduction
• Economically- high inflation and high unemployment
• Energy Crisis- OPEC reduced production and increased
prices
• Trudeau forced Alberta to freeze its oil costs
• Federal government introduced wage and price controls-
unions fought back
• Canadian service industries became the most important
sector in Canada (technology, retail, banks, etc…)
Introduction
• Culturally, Canada continued to fight against American
influence
• New Canadian content awards- Juno Awards for Music, ACTRA
for television, film and radio
• 1972 The Cold War had a ‘fight’ of sorts- 1972 Summit Series
between Canada and the USSR (CCCP)….we won (Paul
Henderson)
• 1975 CN Tower finished
• 1975 Seatbelts became compulsory!
• 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal
• 1979 Mr. Bergman was born! (Canada’s population- 24 million)
Quebec- October Crisis
• 1970’s- francophones living in Quebec felt they had less
equal opportunity then Anglophones
• Separatism
• FLQ- 60’s and 70’s nationalist terrorist group- robberies,
bombings- 5 murders. 23 FLQ members had been
arrested (many cells)
• October 1970- abducted British Trade Commissioner
James Cross and Quebec’s Minister of Labour- Pierre
Laporte
Quebec- October Crisis
• October 12, 1970- PM Trudeau stationed troops in Ottawa
• See clip
• The majority of Canadians approved of military intervention in
this crisis
• October 16- War Measures Act- all civil liberties are removed
• October 18- Pierre Laporte was found dead in the trunk of a car
• James Cross was found December 3- FLQ members
negotiated a deportation to Cuba- did eventually return
Focus: Quebec- October Crisis
• The October Crisis ended radical separatism- but political
separatism surged
• The use of the War Measures Act by the government has
caused immense debate- the government’s invasion of
civil liberties is always a hot issue
• Similar issues arose after 9/11-
Activity
See handouts- The War Measures Act
Quebec- Separatism
• The Parti Quebecois- in power in Quebec
• Rene Levesque- Bill 101
• 1980- Sovereignty referendum- Quebec was asked to
vote on whether they believed they should seek
independence from Canada
• No side won with 60% of the vote
• 1995 similar vote taken- No side on with 50.6% of the
vote