So Close, Yet So Far.
That was the headline all across Canada on October 31st, 1995, as the 1995 referendum, the second referendum to be held on the issue of Quebec seperating from Canada, was defeated. But there would be a permanant asterisk next to this victory for the federalists, the fact that the margin won by was only 50.58% for no to 49.42% for yes. The terms of the referendum also inferred that Quebec would be much more separate than suggested in the 1980 referendum. The 1980 referendum suggested soveriegnty-association with Canada, but the 1995 referendum only offered optional partnership with the rest of Canada.
The referendum was spearheaded by Jacques Parizeau (left). After Liberal premier Bourassa failed to reach an agreement with Ottawa and departed from politics, the Liberal party lost public support, which had shifted to the separatists' side. Parizeau had promised the Quebecois a referendum, and that's what they got. Unfortunately, due to a lack of definition of independence from Parizeau and his controversial remarks. Eventually, he handed the reins of independence over to Lucian Bouchard of the federal Bloc Quebecois party, but Bouchard's popularity wasn't enough to regain what Parizeau had lost.
But Quebec dissatisfaction with the failures of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords that brought an enormous number of changes to Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The Progressive Conservative party was completely decimated, winning only 2 seats as opposed to 156 they had last term. The Bloc Quebecois became the official opposition, but only had two more seats than the third party, the Reform party, who had 52 while the Bloc had 54. The Liberal party won an overwhelming majority taking 177 of the 295 seats.
The referendum was spearheaded by Jacques Parizeau (left). After Liberal premier Bourassa failed to reach an agreement with Ottawa and departed from politics, the Liberal party lost public support, which had shifted to the separatists' side. Parizeau had promised the Quebecois a referendum, and that's what they got. Unfortunately, due to a lack of definition of independence from Parizeau and his controversial remarks. Eventually, he handed the reins of independence over to Lucian Bouchard of the federal Bloc Quebecois party, but Bouchard's popularity wasn't enough to regain what Parizeau had lost.
But Quebec dissatisfaction with the failures of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords that brought an enormous number of changes to Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The Progressive Conservative party was completely decimated, winning only 2 seats as opposed to 156 they had last term. The Bloc Quebecois became the official opposition, but only had two more seats than the third party, the Reform party, who had 52 while the Bloc had 54. The Liberal party won an overwhelming majority taking 177 of the 295 seats.