On the Scene: Ils se souviennent

CANADA was lucky to survive the latest round of Quebec separatism. Whereas the previous sovereignty referendum, in 1980, was rejected by 60 per cent of the voters, the referendum held on October 30 was rejected by just 50.6 per cent of Quebec’s electorate.

This is far from settling the issue. Obviously, if 60 per cent rejection was not able to kill separatism in 1980, this slimmer-than-slim majority won’t kill the movement now. The close voters why Premier Jacques Parizeau, who resigned his leadership of the Parti Quebecois’s provincial government the day after the referendum, promised that separatism is alive and that Quebec will not have to wait another 15 years for the next referendum.

JO

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John O’Neill

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CANADA was lucky to survive the latest round of Quebec separatism. Whereas the previous sovereignty referendum, in 1980, was rejected by 60 per cent of the voters, the referendum held on October 30 was rejected by just 50.6 per cent of Quebec’s electorate.

This is far from settling the issue. Obviously, if 60 per cent rejection was not able to kill separatism in 1980, this slimmer-than-slim majority won’t kill the movement now. The close voters why Premier Jacques Parizeau, who resigned his leadership of the Parti Quebecois’s provincial government the day after the referendum, promised that separatism is alive and that Quebec will not have to wait another 15 years for the next referendum.