Editing Pierre Trudeau (section)

=== Quebec ===
==== October Crisis ====
Trudeau's first serious test as Prime Minister came during the [[October Crisis]] of 1970, when a Marxist-influenced Quebec separatist group, the [[Front de libération du Québec]] (FLQ), kidnapped British Trade Consul [[James Cross]] at his residence on October 5. Five days later, the group also kidnapped Quebec Labour Minister [[Pierre Laporte]]. Trudeau, with the acquiescence of Quebec Premier [[Robert Bourassa]], responded by invoking the ''[[War Measures Act]]'', which gave the government sweeping powers of arrest and detention without trial. Trudeau presented a determined public stance during the crisis; when questioned by [[CBC Television]] journalist [[Tim Ralfe]] regarding how far he would go to stop the violence, Trudeau answered, "[[Just watch me]]". Laporte was found dead on October 17 in the trunk of a car. Five of the FLQ members were flown to [[Cuba]] in 1970 as part of a deal in exchange for James Cross' life, although they eventually returned to Canada years later, where they served time in prison.{{sfn|Munroe (2012)}}

Although Trudeau's response is still controversial and was opposed at the time as excessive by parliamentarians like Tommy Douglas and [[David Lewis (Canadian politician)|David Lewis]], it was met with only limited objections from the public.{{sfn|Janigan (1975-11-01)|p=3}}

==== Quebec provincial affairs ====
After consultations with the provincial premiers, Trudeau agreed to attend a conference called by [[Premier of British Columbia|British Columbia Premier]] [[W. A. C. Bennett]] to attempt to finally [[patriation|patriate]] the [[Constitution of Canada|Canadian constitution]].{{sfn|English (2009)|p=135}} Negotiations between the provinces and Justice Minister [[John Turner]] created a draft agreement, known as the [[Victoria Charter]], that entrenched a charter of rights, bilingualism, and a guarantee of a veto of constitutional amendments for Ontario and Quebec, as well as regional vetoes for [[Western Canada]] and [[Atlantic Canada]], within the new constitution.{{sfn|English (2009)|p=135}} The agreement was acceptable to the nine predominantly-English speaking provinces, but Quebec's premier Robert Bourassa requested two weeks to consult with his cabinet.{{sfn|English (2009)|p=135}} After a strong backlash of popular opinion against the agreement in Quebec, Bourassa stated that Quebec would not accept it.{{sfn|English (2009)|p=136}}

Trudeau faced increasing challenges in Quebec, starting with bitter relations with Bourassa and his [[Quebec Liberal Party|Quebec Liberal]] government. Following a rise in the polls after the rejection of the Victoria Charter, the Quebec Liberals had taken a more confrontational approach with the federal government on the constitution, [[Bill 22|French language laws]], and the language of [[air traffic control]] in Quebec.{{sfn|English (2009)|pp=302–306}} Trudeau responded with increasing anger at what he saw as nationalist provocations against Ottawa's bilingualism and constitutional initiatives, at times expressing his personal contempt for Bourassa.{{sfn|English (2009)|pp=302–306}}

Partially in an attempt to shore up his support, Bourassa called a [[1976 Quebec general election|surprise election in 1976]] that resulted in [[René Lévesque]] and the sovereigntist [[Parti Québécois]] (PQ) winning a majority government. The PQ had chiefly campaigned on a "good government" platform, but promised a referendum on independence to be held within their first mandate. Trudeau and Lévesque had been personal rivals, with Trudeau's intellectualism contrasting with Lévesque's more working-class image. While Trudeau claimed to welcome the "clarity" provided by the PQ victory, the unexpected rise of the [[Quebec sovereignty movement]] became, in his view, his biggest challenge.{{sfn|English (2009)|p=308}}

As the PQ began to take power, Trudeau faced the prolonged breakdown of his marriage, which the English-language press covered in lurid detail on a day-by-day basis. Trudeau's reserve was seen as dignified by contemporaries, and his poll numbers actually rose during the height of coverage,{{sfn|English (2009)|p=329}} but aides felt the personal tensions left him uncharacteristically emotional and prone to outbursts.{{sfn|English (2009)|pp=327–328}}