1995 Referendum Quotes

But because it seldom happens people forget that a caucus in the British parliamentary system can remove a leader, including a prime minister.

In 1995, the result of the PQ-mandated second referendum on Québec independence was such a close call that in many other countries it might have degenerated into civil conflict. But that didn’t happen. Why not? Maybe because on all of those occasions we kept talking, since we know in our heart of hearts that what we’ve got is worth keeping.

Now, twelve years after the 1995 referendum had brought the country to the brink of breakup, the voters in a francophone, nationalist riding dumped the Liberals and abandoned the Bloc, signalling their willingness to return to the Canadian conversation.

Parizeau had initially planned to go into the referendum with a harder question, one that would not have involved a future association with Canada. What the premier had in mind was a divorce, pure and simple, possibly, but not necessarily, on amicable terms.