Artefact 3: FLQ Manifeso
The Front de libération du Québec, The FLQ Manifesto. Trans. Damien-Claude Bélanger (Trent University, 2007). Originally broadcast October 8th, 1970. http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/docs/october/documents/FLQManifesto.pdf
Artefact Label:
After the kidnapping of Cross, the FLQ released seven demands that they wanted to be met before they released their victims, the first and most important demand was that they wanted the government to publicly broadcast and publish their 1970 manifesto so that it could be viewed by all Canadians and increase the notoriety of the FLQ. While the decision was eventually made to publish and broadcast the manifest there was staunch opposition on many fronts to his decision. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was one such person, with him notably calling the EVP of Radio-Canada Laurent Picard a “Damn Fool” for his decision to broadcast the manifesto on television. Worries about the effects of publishing the manifesto were even greater in Quebec, notably Premier Bourassa was worried that the public spreading of FLQ ideas would only lead to further public unrest, a fear partially realized as there was a large FLQ-related gathering at the University of Montreal shortly after the reading of the manifesto. Despite the fear that publishing the would lead to FLQ ideas and sympathy spreading it was not the case in the end, as it was not popular among most Canadians, and any public demonstrations associated with the FLQ were banned after the War Measures Act was enacted.
Sources:
Tetley, William. The October Crisis, 1970 : An Insider’s View. McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2007. https://search-ebscohost-com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat03710a&AN=alb.7228079&site=eds-live&scope=site.