War Measures Act Essay

1064 Words5 Pages

Was the enactment of the War Measures Act during the October Crisis Justified?
When one thinks of a terrorist attack, Canada is not usually the first one to come to mind. Canada is usually regarded as a very peaceful country. But Canada was not always peaceful internally; in fact it had raging internal battles with the French wanting independence. A drastic approach some Quebeckers took happened during the October Crisis. It began on October 5, 1970, with the kidnapping of James Cross, a British trade commissioner in the city of Montreal, Quebec. This was carried out by a radical separatist group, Front de Libération du Québec, often shortened to FLQ. Later Pierre Laporte, the Minister of Labour, was kidnapped also. With these acts of terrorism plaguing Quebec, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau enacted the War Measures Act. This was the only time ever to be ever done so during a time of peace. This action is very controversial even to this day. The enactment of the War Measures Act was not justified because it removed civil rights, increased fears and very little communication between parties.
The War Measures Act was not justified because it revoked rights of …show more content…

There are many takes on what occurred during the October crisis, and many untold stories. Each tale gives a new puzzle to understand what really happened. Prime Minster Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s decsion remains a controversy to this day with many opposing it, and some justifying it was the right thing to do. After a while, the War Measures Act was eventually replaced by the Emergency Act in 1988. Sometimes, it is better to know what one is up against and creating a plan based on it. Was the War Measures Act during the October Crisis really justified, or was it a rash