Artefact 4: Pierre Trudeau "Just Watch Me" Interview
CBC. “CBC Archives: Just Watch Me, 1970 | CBC,” (Uploaded December 3, 2008. Aired October 13, 1970), News, 7:33. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfUq9b1XTa0.
Artefact Label:
Despite its limited scope and small chance to meaningfully impact the lives of the average Canadian, the FLQ crisis was a very tense time across the nation as many people believed it to be the greatest threat to national security since the end of the Second World War. During these times of hardship, it is important that the leadership can take control of the situation to prevent any further civil unrest. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s invocation of the War Measures Act, while controversial, not only gave the government precedent to take drastic measures but also showed the wider Canadian population that the Federal government was taking steps to ensure the safety of its citizens regardless of the cost. The use of the phrase “Just watch me” when asked if he would use the War Measures Act to erase civil liberties in the name of national security optimizes the approach of the federal government throughout the crisis, as ultimately despite the controversy it did allow the crisis to be resolved quickly and with minimal harm done.
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.