The Quebec Referendum 1995
 

Shortly after assuming office in September 1994, the Parti Québécois government, led by Jacques Parizeau, drafted a law for a new referendum and then held public hearings on this draft law during the winter of 1994-1995. On June 12, 1995 three political parties the Parti Québécois led by Premier Jacques Parizeau,  the federal Bloc Québécois led by Lucien Bouchard the Action démocratique du Québec led by Mario Dumont.  signed an agreement to work together and to promote the "Yes"option . The "No" forces were led by Quebec's Liberal leader, Daniel Johnson.

Jacques Parizeau

Daniel Johnson

Lucien Bouchard

Premier Parizeau released the referendum question on September 7.

• Do you agree that Quebec should beome 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 Quebec and the agreement signed on June 12, 1995?

The vote was held October 30 and 93 % of Quebec's electorate participated . The results were as follows:

• 50.6% of the total electorate voted NO
• 49.4 % of the total electorate voted YES
• about 60 % of francophones voted YES and
• over 90% of anglophones and allophones voted NO.

On referendum night, in a speech to his supporters, Premier Parizeau blamed "money and the ethnic vote" for his defeat. The next day, Premier Parizeau resigned from office and was eventually replaced by the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Lucien Bouchard.[59kb]