On May 20, 1980, René Lévesque’s Parti Québécois government asked the residents of Quebec to vote on the constitutional future of the province. The 80-word referendum question presented the option of “sovereignty-association.” At the end of an emotion- and debate-filled campaign that sometimes divided families and friends, the verdict was in: The “Non” won with almost 60% of the votes. The vote against sovereignty-association predominated in the Québec City area, except in the Louis-Hébert riding represented by Minister Claude Morin. Do you have any memories of the 1980 referendum?
Jean Vallières
The camp opposing the referendum was led by Claude Ryan, head of the Quebec Liberal Party. He was supported on the federal level by Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Minister Jean Chrétien. During the referendum campaign, the Quebec Liberal Party set up an official committee called Les Québécois pour le Non.
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