Secret military antiterrorist unit woke up Montreal suburb.

Canadian Press

Montreal-A night military exercise that prompted Jacques Parizeau to accuse the federal government of prereferendum provocation was conducted by the military's secretive antiterrorist unit.  The Joint Task Force 2 exercise, conducted in the middle of the night on Aug.9, with large Twin Huey helicopters and ear-splitting stun grenades, woke up scores of people in the Montreal suburb of Anjou and drew the wrath of Mr. Parizeau.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien said he knew nothing about the exercises and noted that the Canadian Forces conduct manouvers all the time. Although the acknowledge a high degree of secrecy surrounding the unit, some military officers complained privately that few people were informed of the exercise in advance of the Montreal excercise and argued that the inccident did nothing to boost support for the military.

"That's all we need right now-Parizeau all over the front pages complaining about the Armed Forces," said one officer who spoke on condition that he not be indentified.  Military sources say it's highly unlikely the antiterrorist unit will exercise in Quebec again until after the referendum.

Joint Task Force 2 was set up when the military took over antiterrorist responsibilities from the RCMP in 1993. To protect the force, its size, weapons, training, and the name of the lieutenant-colonel who commands it are not made public. It is based near Ottawa.  The unit's primary mandate is "to be ready to respond as a force of last resort to terrorist events or major disturbances of the peace affecting national security."