P+The+Second+Quebec+Referendum+of+1995

=**The 1995 Second Quebec Referendum**=


 * ===Contents===

[|1. The Question]

[|2. The Question in French]

[|3. Key Terms]

[|4. Jacques Parizeau]

[|5. Lucien Bouchard]

[|6. The Oui Side]

[|7. The Non Side]

[|8. The Results and Its Consequences]

[|9. Day of Decision]

[|10. Rallying For Unity] ||

The Question
"Do you agree that Québec should become sovereign after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new economic and political partnership within the scope of the bill respecting the future of Québec and of the agreement signed on June 12, 1995?"

The Question in French
"Do you agree that Québec should become sovereign after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new economic and political partnership within the scope of the bill respecting the future of Québec and of the agreement signed on June 12, 1995?"


 * Key Terms**

Independence from external control, self-government.
 * Sovereignty:**

Direct, public votes on proposed policies or laws.
 * Referendum:**

NAFTA:
NAFTA is a free trade agreement that comprises Canada, the US and Mexico, exceeding 360 million consumers and with a combined output of $6 trillion.

Jacques Parizeau

 * At the time of the referendum Jacques Parizeau was the lead spokesperson of the “Oui” side.


 * Parizeau was also the premier of Quebec at this time too and belonged to the Parti Qubecois (PQ)


 * He came into power in the 1994 Quebec election by winning a convincing majority government


 * Parizeau promised to hold a referendum on Quebec sovereignty within a year of his election,and despite many objections, he followed through on this promise.


 * He told the citizens of Quebec that sovereignty was the best solution to a bad relationship with Canada.


 * Parizeau also said that Quebec would be allowed to remain in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)


 * But no one knew if his claims were true.

Lucien Bouchard

 * As like Parizeau, Bouchard was key player of the “Oui” side during the referendum.


 * In 1995, he signed as Bloc Quebecois Leader.


 * He was instrumental in convincing Parizeau to include a plan of association with Canada in the referendum question.


 * Québec premier Jacques Parizeau first led the Yes campaign but, as support for sovereignty began to plateau, Bouchard was given the official leadership.


 * During the plateau period, Bouchard became the official leader and support for the “Oui” side soared. The “Oui” side seemed to sure to win after he was leader and with a few days to go.

The Oui Side

 * Quebec could only reach its full potential through independence


 * The PQ promised a new constitution


 * Parizeau said if they separated, there would be more jobs, but the unemployment rate in Quebec was already very high, so any difference would a big one.


 * Parizeau also promised better schools, better protection for the environment, and less bureaucracy. The “Oui” side got sentimental votes when Lucien Bouchard in December of 1995 Lucien Bouchard had come close to death from necrotizing fasciitis ("flesh-eating disease"). They had to remove one leg to stop the spread. This aided the votes for the “Oui” side.


 * Parizeau said that they would still be allowed to remain in NAFTA, but some people weren’t sure of this claim.

The Non Side

 * To challenge separation, Daniel Johnson and other federalists raised doubts the wording of the of Referendum question.


 * The people needed to understand what they were voting for.


 * Half of the Quebecers believed they could bote Oui to sovereignty, but still keep most of the benefits of being part of Canada.


 * If the vote was close, it would be disastrous for Quebec’s economic and political life.


 * The Quebec government should be focusing on sovereignty when the economy was weak and unemployment was high.

The Results and Its Consequences

 * The society had very much cared about the referendum and had resulted in 140 000 Canadians rallying in Montreal to show Quebecers.


 * During the time when ballots were being counted it had looked like the whole province was voting Oui


 * As the poll results progressed the Non side was noticed and the Non side had won but was a very close call.


 * The Non side won by 50.6 percent where the Oui side had 49.4 percent.


 * Even though the separation did not happen, Chrétien had promised

Day of Decision
//“After years of planning, months of campaigning and one long day of voting, the results of the 1995 referendum are beginning to flow in. With the fate of Quebec hanging in the balance, Canadians everywhere watch anxiously as the Yes and No sides compete for the lead in what turns out to be an unbearably close race. With more than two-thirds of the votes accounted for, this clip from CBC Television's live coverage looks at the anxiety produced by the neck-and-neck race.”//


 * Here is a clip from the CBC archives to show this: [|Day of Decision]**

Rallying For Unity
//“By train, bus, car and plane, they came to Montreal: thousands upon thousands of Canadians determined to show how much they want Quebec to reject sovereignty. As referendum day looms, the federalist No side is running behind in the polls. But their cause gets a lift from unity boosters who jam the city's streets waving both the Maple Leaf and the Fleur-de-lis. In this clip, three CBC reporters describe the rally and the reaction.”//


 * Here is a clip from the CBC archives to show this: [|Rallying For Unity]**