Mr. Speaker, more than 450 people were arrested when the government invoked the War Measures Act in October 1970. Today we know that all the known members of the FLQ and all those who were suspected of being members were released in the hope that they would lead the police to the places were Mr. Cross and Mr. Laporte were being held.
These people, who were arrested without warrant, usually in the middle of the night, kept in the dark about the new crimes that had just been created, and held incommunicado until they were questioned, were all finally released without charge. Some were let go several days after being arrested, while others were not released until months later.
It is disturbing to think that these measures were taken by politicians who had always claimed to stand up for human rights and workers' rights.
Events such as these show us how very fragile our lofty principles and our institutions can be.
Let us learn from such events. After all, Quebec's motto is “Je me souviens”, I remember.