1st Referendum Exhibit 5
In 1980, the Parti Quebecois (PQ), under the leadership of Premier Rene Levesque implemented a referendum which was to be voted on by the citizens of Quebec. The answer was to be YES or NO
"The Government of Quebec has made public its proposal to negotiate a new agreement with the rest of Canada, based on the equality of nations; this agreement would enable Quebec to acquire the exclusive power to make its laws, levy its taxes and establish relations abroad — in other words, sovereignty — and at the same time to maintain with Canada an economic association including a common currency; any change in political status resulting from these negotiations will only be implemented with popular approval through another referendum; on these terms, do you give the Government of Quebec the mandate to negotiate the proposed agreement between Quebec and Canada?"
Many polls showed that the PQ would win the referendum. On May 14th, 1980, 6 days before the May 20, 1980 referendum, then Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau finally made a speech to the people of Quebec appealing to the Quebecers to say No in the vote.
The final vote was 59% against separation and 40% for separation.
Levesque's last words to the crowd after the loss that night was "À la prochaine" ("Until next time") and then he left the arena. Levesque knew that it was not the end of the sovereignty movement in Quebec and in 2005 there was a 2nd referendum.