The War Measures Act was introduced on October 16 1970 by Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. These regulations labeled the Front de Libération du Québec (FLQ) “an unlawful association” and assigned jail terms for those associated with it in any way. Shortly after, the Committee to Aid Persons Arrested under the War Measures Act was also created. By October 31 1970, just over 400 people had been arrested under the Act – however, most of these detainees were released without any charges being brought against them, as was reflected in a report by John Turner in February 1971. On November 2 1970, the Public Order Temporary Measures Act of 1970 replaced the original regulations of the War Measures Act. The regulations within this new act were similar to those of the original act, including outlawing the FLQ. On April 30 1971, the War Measures Act was repealed, and attention turned to dealing with complaints arising from the act. Previously, it had been announced that Quebec would compensate those “unjustly arrested under [the Act]”. Quebec’s provincial ombudsman reported that 103 of the 238 received complaints were entitled to compensation. Meanwhile, the 32 charges laid against people under the Act were “announced to be suspended” on August 13 1971.
Below is a brief summary of those most heavily involved in the October Crisis and their sentencing.
| Accused | Sentence | Timeline |
Jacques and Louise Cossette-Trudel | Sentenced to two years in jail | December 13 1978 → The Cossette-Trudels return to Montreal and are “immediately arrested and charged with conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping, attempted extortion and forcible detention” May 31 1979 → Plead “guilty” in the trial related to the James Cross kidnapping case August 7 1979 → Sentenced to two years in jail April 4 1980 → Let out on parole August 7 1979 → Sentenced to two years in jail |
Jacques Rose | Sentenced to eight years in jail | October 23 1970 → Warrant issued for the arrest of Jacques Rose December 28 1970 → Arrested January 5 1971 → Charged with kidnapping and murder in the case of Pierre Laporte’s death February 7 1972 → Trial begins May 11 1972 → Jury in trial was unable to “reach a unanimous decision” December 9 1972 → Acquitted of the kidnapping of Pierre Laporte December 18 1972 → Arraigned for further charges in the Pierre Laporte case February 23 1973 → Acquitted of the murder of Pierre Laporte July 17 1973 → Convicted of “being an accessory after the fact in the kidnapping of Pierre Laporte” and sentenced to eight years June 3 1974 → Appeal request rejected July 17 1978 → Parole granted |
Paul Rose | Sentenced to life in prison | October 18 1970 → Warrant issued for the arrest of Paul Rose December 28 1970 → Arrested January 5 1971 → Charged with kidnapping and murder in the Pierre Laporte case March 13 1971 → Sentenced to life in prison December 20 1982 → Granted full parole after initially being denied in January of 1981 |
Francis Simard | Sentenced to life in prison | October 23 1970 → Warrant issued for the arrest of Francis Simard in the Pierre Laporte case December 28 1970 → Arrested January 5 1971 → Charged with kidnapping and murder in the case of Pierre Laporte’s death |
| Marc Carbonneau | Sentenced to 20 months in prison | October 18 1970 → Warrant issued for the arrest of Marc Carbonneau in the James Cross kidnapping case May 26 1981 → Pleads “not guilty” to charges of “conspiracy, forcible detention and extortion” October 22 1981 → Changes his plea to “guilty” March 23 1982 → Sentenced to 20 months for “kidnapping, forcible confinement, conspiracy, and extortion” |
| Bernard Lortie | Sentenced to 20 years in prison | October 23 1970 → Warrant issued for the arrest of Bernard Lortie in the case of Pierre Laporte’s death November 6 1970 → Arrested January 5 1971 → Charged with kidnapping and murder in the Pierre Laporte case September 22 1971 → Found guilty of kidnapping November 22 1971 → Sentenced to 20 years for kidnapping December 9 1972 → Sentenced “to five months in jail for refusing to testify” in Jacques Rose trial as a witness |
| Pierre Vallières | Given a one-year suspended sentence | March 10 1971 → Conspiracy charges laid against Pierre Vallieres January 24 1972 → Gave himself up to the police October 4 1972 → Charged with “counseling kidnapping for political purposes” |
| Charles Gagnon & Jacques Larue-Langlois | Acquitted | March 10 1971 → Conspiracy charges laid against Gagnon and Larue-Langlois June 15 1971 → Acquitted |
| Nigel Barry Hamer | Sentenced to 1 year in jail | July 9 1980 → Arrested and charged for his role in the James Cross kidnapping case November 17 1980 → Pleads “guilty” to “charges of conspiracy, forcible detention and extortion” May 21 1981 → Sentenced to twelve months in jail |
| Pierre-Paul Geoffroy | Sentenced to multiple life sentences | March 3 1969 → Arrested for a number of FLQ bombings 1968-1969 → Pleads guilty April 9 1979→ Denied parole April 9, 1980 → Granted parole |
| Michel Chartrand | Charges dropped | November 5 1970 → Arraigned January 5 1971 → Charged with conspiracy February 12 1971 → Charges dropped |
| Robert Lemieux | Sentenced to 2.5 years | November 5 1970 → Arraigned February 12 1971 → Conspiracy charges dropped July 17 1973 → Sentenced to two and a half years for contempt of court |