Picking up where I left off yesterday. The actions of the FLQ culminated in the October Crisis in 1970, with the kidnapping of a British diplomat and provincial cabinet minister. The federal government invoked the War Measures Act. By the end of the crisis, the diplomat was released, but the minister was murdered.
The province continued to question its future- as a province within country or as a country on its own. By 1976, a separatist party would win power in the province.
License plates reflect the change in leadership. The editorial cartoon at top shows the two rivals- the Quebec premier Rene Levesque (perpetually seen with a cigarette dangling from his lips) and the Canadian prime minister, Pierre Trudeau.
It came to a referendum over separation in 1980. Trudeau was one of the leaders of the No movement, to keep Quebec as part of Canada. Here video clips of both leaders play against each other in turn, this one being Trudeau making a speech at a rally on the subject.
The other features Levesque in the provincial legislature, with his own remarks on the subject.
The 1980 referendum did not get the result Levesque wanted. In 1995, separatists were back in power, and had another go at another referendum.
Jacques Parizeau, the premier of Quebec, was one of the leaders of the Yes side. He is represented here by a puppet.
Another puppet, but this being a leader of the No side- the prime minister at the time, Jean Chretien.
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