Artefact 5: Troops and Tanks roam Quebec streets during October Crisis

CBC Archives “Troops, tanks roam Quebec streets during October Crisis” CBC, (October 1970) News, 1:43. https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/1.3595318

Artefact Label:

The use of the War Measures Act by the federal government gave them the ability to deploy military troops for domestic use. Despite their stated goal being to restore order and keep the peace in the province so the police forces could focus on their hunt for the FLQ, many people within the province initially felt as if the army was more of an occupying force than a protective one. Despite the initial reservations many had toward the Canadian armed forces, during the 3 months of deployment in Quebec it was reported that the army troops stationed there were disciplined and cordial to the population of Quebec with many units being commended by the people they protected after they left in January 1971. Though the use of armed troops to keep the peace in Quebec during the crisis was considered controversial and had the chance of further alienating Quebec, overall it went well and the lack of incidents between the army and civilians only further showed that deploying the army was a justified choice to ensure stability.

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.