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Period: to
October Crisis
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Kidnapped
British Trade Commissioner James Cross is kidnapped by members of the "Liberation Cell" of the FLQ. This was followed by a communiqué to the authorities that contained the kidnappers' demands, which included the release of a number of convicted or detained terrorists and the CBC broadcast of the FLQ Manifesto. -
Broadcast
Broadcast of the FLQ Manifesto in all French- and English-speaking media outlets in Quebec. -
Chenier cell
Members of the Chenier Cell approach the home of Pierre Laporte while he played football with his nephew. Laporte, the Minister of Labour and Vice-Premier of Quebec is kidnapped by members of the "Chenier cell" of the FLQ -
CBC broadcast
The CBC broadcasts a letter from captivity from Pierre Laporte to the Premier of Quebec, Robert Bourassa -
Intervied Trudeau
Prime Minister Trudeau is interviewed by the CBC in respect of the military presence. In a combative interview, Trudeau asks the reporter what he would do in his place, and when asked how far he would go replies "Just watch me". -
National Defence Act
The Government of Quebec, solely responsible for law and order, formally requisitions the intervention of the Canadian army in "aid of the civil power", as is its right alone under the National Defence Act. All three opposition parties, including the Parti Québécois rise in the National Assembly and agree with the decision. On the same day, separatist groups are permitted to speak at the Université de Montréal. The same day, about 3,000 students gather in a Montreal arena to show their support f -
A request is made
Premier Bourassa formally requests that the Government of Canada grant the Government of Quebec "emergency powers" that allow them to "apprehend and keep in custody" individuals. This resulted in the implementation of the War Measures Act, which allowed the suspension of habeas corpus, giving wide-reaching powers of arrest to police. The City of Montreal had already made such a request the day before. These measures came into effect at 4:00 a.m. Prime Minister Trudeau made a broadcast announcing -
Executed
The Chenier cell of the FLQ announces that hostage Pierre Laporte has been executed. He is strangled to death and his body is dumped in the trunk of a car and abandoned in the bush near Saint-Hubert Airport, a few miles from Montreal. A communiqué to police advising that Pierre Laporte had been executed referred to him derisively as the "Minister of unemployment and assimilation". In a communiqué issued by the "Liberation cell" holding James Cross, his kidnappers declared that -
Journal de Montréal
Columnist, politician, and future Premier of Quebec, René Lévesque, writes in the Journal de Montréal newspaper that "The Army occupies Quebec. It is unpleasant but undoubtedly necessary in times of crisis." -
FLQ hiding spot
Police raid the hiding place of the FLQ's Chenier cell. Although three members escaped the raid, Bernard Lortie was arrested and charged with the kidnapping and murder of Pierre Laporte -
Hostage
After being held hostage for 60 days, kidnapped British Trade Commissioner James Cross is released by the FLQ Liberation cell terrorists after negotiations with police. Simultaneously, the five known terrorist members, Marc Carbonneau, Yves Langlois, Jacques Lanctôt, Jacques Cossette-Trudel and his wife, Louise Lanctôt, are granted their request for safe passage to Cuba by the Government of Canada after approval by Fidel Castro. They are flown to Cuba by a Canadian Forces aircr -
Three Members Arrested & Charged
The three remaining members of the Chenier Cell still at large, Paul Rose, Jacques Rose, and Francis Simard, are arrested after being found hiding in a 6 m tunnel in the rural farming community. They would be charged with the kidnapping and murder of Pierre Laporte.
