Bomb Explodes at Military Recruiting Office

A bomb exploded at a military recruiting office in Trois-Rivières, Quebec just before 3 o'clock on Friday morning. A bomb threat had been called into the Trois-Rivières public security department at 2:37, less than half an hour before the explosion took place. The offices operated by Canada's military are located in a strip mall on St. Georges Street, near the Delta Hotel and a bus terminal. Quebec's provincial police force is investigating the bombing. Explosives experts and a canine squad have been called in, and a security perimeter has been established.

Sgt. Eloise Cossette of the SQ, Quebec's provincial police force, noted that the amount and type of damage done suggest the bomb was located inside the building. The explosion badly damaged glass doors and blew out several of the building's windows, but the structure of the building appears to be relatively unaffected.

Possible separatist or anti-war connection to bombing
Some media outlets are connecting the bombing with Canada's mission in Afghanistan, which is largely unsupported in the province of Quebec. A recent Canadian Press Harris-Decima poll shows 77 percent of people in Quebec are opposed to the Afghan mission, and 52 percent want to see military personnel returned home before the 2011 deadline for pulling out of that country.

Support for Canada's military has always been a subject of controversy in Quebec, and some groups have made attempts within the past year to have representatives of the Canadian Forces and the Cadet Movement banned from Quebec's schools.

Proud military history in Quebec
Despite the uneasy relations between Quebec and Canada's armed forces, some of our country's best known and most decorated regiments are located in Quebec. The Black Watch and the Royal 22nd, the infamous Van Doos, stand even today as living examples of military pride and valour.

Lieutenant Commander Marta Mulkins and Commander Josée Kurtz, trailblazing women who have taken command of Canadian warships, were both raised in Quebec. Just under 21 percent of Canada's military personnel were serving in Quebec as of 2009 - a figure second only to that of Ontario.

Previous protests and violent incidents
Former CSIS agent Michel Juneau-Katsuya was interviewed earlier by LCN. He said there are a number of possible reasons for the bombing, including separatists who may have wanted to make a political statement on Canada Day. Juneau-Katsuya says this bombing, which took place while Queen Elizabeth II was on Canadian soil to celebrate our country's birthday, is the twelfth incident of its sort in the last five years. Less violent protests took place in November 2009, when Prince Charles was in the province just before Remembrance Day.

Sources:
"Attentat contre un local de l'armée." Radio-Canada

"Explosion au centre de recrutement de l'armée." LCN

"Explosion damages Canadian Forces office in Trois-Rivières." The Gazette

"First woman takes command of warship." Toronto Star

"Half would support civilian mission in Afghanistan beyond 2011." Harris-Decima

"Military personnel and pay." Statistics Canada

"Sailor selected as a trailblazer." Canadian Navy press release