The separatists were narrowly defeated in the 30 October 1995 referendum by 53,500 votes. Anglophones (English-speakers) and immigrants voted "no" as they vigorously sought to maintain Quebec's allegiance to the Canadian government. Francophones, using language with racial undertones, continue to foster the cause of an independent Quebec. Led by charismatic Lucien Bouchard, the separatists displayed an insensitivity toward those outside their ethnic group and ignored the difficulties independence would place on the debt-ridden, economically depressed province.<ref>J. A. S. Evans, "The Present State of Canada." ''Virginia Quarterly Review'' 1996 72(2): 213-225. Issn: 0042-675x Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]</ref> | The separatists were narrowly defeated in the 30 October 1995 referendum by 53,500 votes. Anglophones (English-speakers) and immigrants voted "no" as they vigorously sought to maintain Quebec's allegiance to the Canadian government. Francophones, using language with racial undertones, continue to foster the cause of an independent Quebec. Led by charismatic Lucien Bouchard, the separatists displayed an insensitivity toward those outside their ethnic group and ignored the difficulties independence would place on the debt-ridden, economically depressed province.<ref>J. A. S. Evans, "The Present State of Canada." ''Virginia Quarterly Review'' 1996 72(2): 213-225. Issn: 0042-675x Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]</ref> |