The October Crisis, 1970 (Single lesson)
Cabinet conclusion excerpts (October 15, 1970)
Cabinet Minutes
Oct. 15 am
The Secretary of State for External Affairs said that the Prime Minister, following discussions with Premier Bourassa, had concluded that the Quebec government would like to have assistance from the federal government during the week in terms of special legislation to deal with the developing crisis.
…
The Prime Minister indicated that what was required was either amendments to the Criminal Code or special legislation providing the right to arrest persons for their belonging to, or sharing in the aims of, the F.L.Q.
The Secretary of State for External Affairs indicated that he personally recommended that special legislation or the use of the War Measures Act be brought forward to the committee. …
…
The Prime Minister indicated that he would make an announcement in the House and also speak to the nation. He stated, in particular, that a deadline was to be set for the delivery of the two persons kidnapped, after which no further consideration would be given to the F.L.Q. and the police forces would go all out seeking the guilty parties.
…
Mr. Marchand indicated that the situation was much more serious than he thought. …
…
The F.L.Q. were reported to have two tons of dynamite in their control in Montreal, the destination of which was controlled by radio equipment. Moreover, if the radio equipment in question had worked properly yesterday, there would have been one explosion in Montreal yesterday.
Asked where he had obtained such information, Mr. Marchand indicated that he had it from police sources. It appeared to him that the F.L.Q. was now seeking for support from outside their ranks, that is, public support for their cause. Mr. Marchand then referred to the statement made public in the evening before by Mr. Levesque and a number of other prominent people and stated that the situation was very, very serious and that more quick action was needed, otherwise, not only evidence would be destroyed but F.L.Q. members would disappear. Time was against public authorities, and federal authorities should act as soon as possible.
Mr. Marchand further stated that approximately 200 people could be arrested during the first round of action by the police and possibly another thousand all told eventually; … Mr. Marchand added that it must be realized that the F.L.Q. was a state within the state that must be disorganized now. …
…
The Prime Minister said that he was afraid that civil libertarians would remember that eventually. …
The Minister of Justice, at this point, declared that, in his view, the following points must be considered:
(1) the Legislation that was now being contemplated was very restrictive and therefore should be justified before Parliament and the country. …
…
The Minister of Agriculture then said that he favoured the use of the War Measures Act rather than any other wide measure and suggested that action take place at 9 o’clock that night ...
The Minister of Regional Economic Expansion added that even with the sweep advocated, the two victims of the kidnapping might not be saved but that, if the F.L.Q. was disorganized, the ultimatum contemplated might be useful.
...
The President of the Treasury Board felt that the implicit impression he got from the police report was quite different from the facts told by the Minister of Regional Economic Expansion and he felt that what the government should really be after first was public opinion, then the kidnappers.
…
The Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs indicated that it appeared to him that the Cabinet Committee on Security did not seem to have the same impression that the Minister of Regional Economic Expansion had of the present state of things....