The FLQ Helped Me Choose My Career

October 1970. Ring any bells?

Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) were radical Quebec nationalist, separatists, whatever. The FLQ kidnapped a British consulate official, demanding the release of political prisoners in exchange for his life. He survived but the FLQ also kidnapped and killed a provincial labour minister. [Review the details at http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/october-crisis/.]

I was editor of the college paper in October 1970.

This was more or less by default. Two guys who had been putting out the paper were fired by the student council for printing too many swear words and rambling poetry. I was asked to step in because I had been the editor in the spring and was the only one who knew how to produce an issue. I didn’t really want the job anymore. I was thinking about working in advertising, not journalism.

During the October Crisis, Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau was cool and decisive when appearing before cameras, but history shows his actions were over the top in response to these kidnappers and their organization when he invoked the War Measures Act. Under this Act, hundreds of people who were thought to be possibly connected with the FLQ were arrested and jailed without due process. The Act also restricted freedom of speech and freedom of the press -- media could be shut down or individuals could be arrested for criticizing the government.

The restrictions on media may have deterred some comment in the major papers and networks. However, a student news service called the Canadian University Press distributed all kinds of great material in response to the crisis and the government’s reaction and disregard for justice. I printed some of it. For instance, on one side of a page I set out recent remarks by Quebec Premier Bourassa about the importance of equal justice and, on the other side, his remarks supporting the jailing of innocent people that he made during the crisis.

Printing this material could have been contrary to the War Measures Act. Under the Act, I suppose that I could have been tossed in the slammer as well, but I don’t think any journalists were arrested during the crisis.

The business students at my college, however, staged a protest about their college paper printing that material. Some carried signs calling me a traitor. They demonstrated at the president’s office, calling for me to be expelled from the college.

I thought, “Wow, this is great,” and decided the hell with advertising. Journalism is a lot more fun.

The War Measures Act had been created in 1914 and used during the WWI to round up and intern Ukrainians and others who might support the other side. The act was used again during WWII to intern Canadians of Japanese descent. The October Crisis was the only time it was invoked when Canada was not at war. The act clearly said it was there in case of an insurrection, nonetheless, the act was contrary to Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In 1981 it was repealed. Canada no longer has an act that would allow government to limit freedom of speech or toss people in jail without due process… I would hope.