BY ROGER ANNIS AND SUSAN BERMAN
MONTREAL - Supporters of a sovereign Quebec lost the
October 30 referendum vote by a very thin margin. But many
vowed to fight on, ensuring that the struggle for Quebecois
national rights will remain at the center of politics in
Canada.
Thousands, a large majority under 25 years of age, gathered at the convention center here for a rally to watch the vote results and, they hoped, celebrate a win. Cheers went up as early results from eastern Quebec showed the "Yes" side, that is pro-sovereignty, in the lead. But the mood became subdued as the returns from Montreal and western Quebec closed the gap and ultimately gave the "No" a 50.6 percent victory.
"I'm disappointed," said factory worker Francois Laplante as he headed home. "But we'll get another chance soon."
"It's very hard to take," said student Benoit Frigon, "but the struggle will continue. Just look at all of us young people here tonight. Do they think we'll just go away?"
Richard Boudreault, a delegate from Montreal attending the international convention of the United Steelworkers of America in Vancouver, said in an interview, "If Ottawa doesn't give Quebec the powers to protect our language and culture, the fight will begin again."
The referendum asked for a mandate for the Quebec government to negotiate a new political and economic arrangement with Canada in which it would take over exclusive powers to make laws, levy taxes, and conclude international agreements.
The proposal was initiated by the Quebec government, which is headed by the Parti Quebecois (PQ), a nationalist, bourgeois party.
Sovereignty has strong support from young people and workers. The largest Yes results were in electoral ridings (districts) whose population is composed of Quebecois workers.
"It's a victory, it's not a defeat," said Angelo Allard, a member of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) union at the MacMillan Bathurst cardboard box factory in Montreal. "There is a gain of almost 10 percent from the 1980 referendum. The federal government will not come through with any improvements so that's going to push support up."
Vote goes down to the wire
The race began with the No campaign holding a big lead
in polls. But the contest became transformed in the last
ten days, when the Yes took the lead in the polls. An air
of panic began to settle into the anti-sovereignty camp.
The No campaign was led by the federal government, the opposition Liberal Party in Quebec, and the largest corporations in Canada. They pulled all the stops to scare voters with the prospect of economic collapse should the Yes win.
They threatened to block Quebec from membership in the North American Free Trade Agreement and deny the province's residents the use of the Canadian dollar and passport. They argued that tens of thousands of jobs would be lost, and that a sovereign Quebec government could no longer afford to pay for pensions and other social services.
U.S. president Bill Clinton weighed in on October 25 with a statement of strong support for the No.
To Ottawa's dismay, the threats seemed to backfire.
Suzanne Pellerin, an estimator for Hydro Quebec in Rouyn-
Noranda in northern Quebec, echoed the sentiments of many
Quebecois workers when she told a journalist, "Maybe the
economy will be better with sovereignty. There are no jobs
now so we can't lose any more than we've got."
Rallies, demonstrations grow
A series of demonstrations involving thousands on both
sides marked the last week of the referendum campaign.
Twelve thousand rallied for the No in Verdun, near Montreal, on October 24. An equal number rallied at the same location for the Yes the following day. Five thousand came out for sovereignty in Quebec City on October 24 and an equal number came out in opposition in Longueuil, also near Montreal, the day before the vote.
The largest rally by far took place on October 27 when the federal government organized a reactionary, pro-Canada "Unity Rally" that drew more than 100,000 people into the streets of Montreal.
Many came from other provinces. Airline and rail companies offered cut rate fares as much as 90 percent for travelers going to the rally. Government employees were given the day off to attend. Some schools were closed.
"We say no to those who would strip us of our Canada," Prime Minister Jean Chrétien told a cheering crowd.
Other pro-Canada rallies took place across the country, including one in Toronto on October 29, which drew 6,000.
In spite of these mobilizations, there was not a wave of anti-Quebec intolerance unleashed across Canada. Most discussions in schools and workplaces between opposing views were civil.
Many Canadians believe that the Quebecois have legitimate grievances and should be recognized as a "distinct society" with more powers than other provinces.
As the polls were giving the Yes a lead, many believed that the federal government should recognize the legitimacy of a yes vote.
"Of course there should be discussions if the yes wins," said John Kadulski, a student at the College Francais in Montreal, at the October 27 pro-Ottawa rally.
Canada rulers barely breathe relief
Despite their win in the vote, Canada's capitalist
rulers did not come out strengthened. "Canada survives,"
was the best headline that the Montreal Gazette could
muster.
Lysiane Gagnon, an anti-sovereignty columnist in the Montreal daily La Presse, wrote following the vote, "We're entering ... an era of perpetual confronta-tion.... Canada will become more ungovernable and the federalist leaders will pay dearly for this half victory."
Many capitalist politicians and commentators are now calling on the federal government to come up with constitutional reforms to placate pro-sovereignty opinion in Quebec. But in comments to journalists on October 31, Chrétien made clear once again that his government has nothing to offer.
"We will win the next vote," said college student Karl Gagné at the convention center rally, "precisely because they have nothing to offer. But this time, we won't have to wait 15 years for another vote."
The capitalist leaders at the head of the sovereignty movement are also facing a crisis. The day after the vote, Quebec premier Jacques Parizeau announced he would resign following the end of the current session of the provincial legislature.
The announcement followed a speech to the Yes rally on the night of the vote that stunned many of his supporters. After welcoming the increase in the pro-sovereignty vote among Quebecois, he declared that the fight for a sovereign Quebec would continue. He then added, "Now let me address my remarks to us, to the 60 percent [of Quebecois] among us who voted Yes."
"We were beaten," he said. "That's true. But by what? By money and the ethnic vote."
At the press conference where he announced his resignation Parizeau defended his words of the previous day.
As in the 1980 referendum, there was a massive No vote from English-language voters and most immigrants. Native Indians also voted in large numbers for the No.
Parizeau and other PQ leaders say that immigrants are a threat to the status of French as the official language in Quebec. They have opposed self-determination for Native people.
This, along with massive cuts in social programs carried out by the PQ government, undercut support for the Yes among Natives, immigrants, and a number of other working people.
Most officials of Native Indian organizations in Quebec came out squarely on the No side and argued publicly that Quebec nationalism was inherently racist and anti-Native.
At the root of support by Quebecois for more political autonomy is the discrimination they face in Canada. Wages, health care, and education services are inferior. In 1993, 20.7 percent lived below the poverty level.
Many Quebecois view sovereignty as a way to combat that discrimination and as a tool to fight for jobs and better living conditions.
"For me," said Fanny Gendron, in a typical comment at the convention center rally, "the Yes campaign means hope. For more jobs, for a better future for young people, to see our language and culture respected."