September 18, 2000
Angels of freedom and of Hell - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- On the History Channel last Wednesday night, there aired a documentary that highlighted the Quebec Crisis of October 1970. Some call it the Quebec Crisis, some the October Crisis, some the FLQ Crisis; some others call it one of Pierre Trudeau finest moments as Prime Minister. Debatable is that point.
Sans the important anecdotes of Trudeau and the late Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa (even hostage James Cross,) the documentary was mainly told through the experiences of Quebec Justice Minister Claude Chaquette and his federal counterpart, Mitchell Sharp, who I read is in his ‘90s and is remarrying sometime this month.
The FLQ, to put it quickly, had created a raucous in Quebec 30 years ago next month. They were proponents of separation. There were bombings and protests, that they forced the government’s hand and Trudeau suspended all civil liberties with invocation of the War Measures Act. Sharp recounts his learning of the kidnapping of Cross, in utter disbelief and wonderment: “This is Canada! This doesn’t happen here.” By that he meant the kidnapping of diplomats was more prone to less civilised nations.
“This is Canada! This doesn’t happen here,” could be said of the senseless ambush lobbed the way of crime reporter Michel Auger in Montreal. Auger had written inflammatory articles regarding the Hell’s Angels in Quebec and probably facing the music, was shot 5-times as he sat in his car last Wednesday.
When I first learned of the shooting of Auger, it was Wednesday night. I had just finished watching that documentary regarding the Quebec Crisis, but hadn’t put two and two together. It was the next morning when I saw the headlines and actually read the story, that I gave it serious pause.
Very easily we could clamour, “What are we coming to as a society!” Ah, how bland and naïve we are. Sympathy is not a virtue, as we aren’t simply dealing with two-bit thugs or roused rabbles. No, we’re dealing with a highly sophisticated and deadly criminal organisation.
The Hell’s Angels are a fascinating topic; people in Quebec had their curiosity fed by Auger and Auger went on making his living. Should he be at death’s door for it? I should think not, but that is the highest and most costly price that we threaten members of the Fourth Estate with. Auger was doing his job. Should he have been attacked - his life in grave danger?
I could rant and rave that the RCMP do something to make the criminals involved pay. I find out with further reading that the police are not only focusing on the Hell’s Angels.
I am most perplexed by the topic at hand. Sure, I don’t think if you are being undermined or disrupted in the media, that you pull your .22 out. Sure, in some horrible reality, if you asked the buggers why they ambushed Auger, they’d actually come up with their reasons. Auger did not deserve the attack and Canadians should be rightfully so angered and dismayed by the turn of events.
I certainly hope journalists and members of the Fourth Estate remain vigilante. I can’t wait to hear of the next story that will say Michel Auger has filed another report - surmounted his attack. What I can offer here in this space, is my sincere hope that assholes in society won’t ever stoop to such cowardice levels as that of Mr. Auger’s attackers.
The press/media have obligations to the people and while I feel for Auger and those around him, I hope they won’t be deterred. The art of journalism has it’s dark side. Sadly, it is through horrendous situations like this, as well as Taber, Alberta and others, that we realise that we are becoming a mature country.
We realise too, that we are mortal. The fabric that binds us is torn. The fabric that divides us Canadians, is bounding us together - once again.
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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .