5 October 1970 – 12 October 1970

The Department of External Affairs set up the Task Force on Kidnapping the same morning that Cross was kidnapped. Within the first week, members made key decisions about the Task Force's activities going forward. Government agents would have to contact Cuba and Algeria to arrange safe-conduct of the kidnappers as per the manifesto demand. The Task Force also considered various contingencies, preparing for Cross' safe return or his possible death. As part of these activities and assessments, the Task Force consulted with an array of agencies and governments: other federal agencies, provincial agencies in Quebec, the RCMP, the British government, and the Cuban and Algerian governments. By the end of the first week, the federal government had already established positions on the key FLQ demands, though the release of political prisoners remained in flux. A second kidnapping—that of Laporte—intensified the crisis and forced the Task Force to reconsider its options.