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Quebec referendum of 1980

The nationalist fervour of the 1960s contributed to the founding of the Parti Québécois on 11 Oct. 1968, with a platform of promoting the independence of Quebec. During the 1976 election campaign party leader René Lévesque promised to hold a referendum on the subject during his first term of office. In December 1979, as premier, Lévesque set out the details of a referendum on sovereignty-association. It would deal with the request for a mandate to negotiate a new agreement with the rest of Canada as well as the idea of a second referendum to consult the people on the results of discussions with the federal government following the first referendum. On 20 May 1980, the day of the referendum, Lévesque suffered the bitterest defeat of his political career: with an 85.6 per cent turnout, 59.56 per cent of Quebec’s voters rejected sovereignty-association.

Related Biographies

LESAGE, JEAN (baptized Joseph-Hertel-Jean)
LÉVESQUE, RENÉ (baptized Charles-René)
TRUDEAU, PIERRE ELLIOTT

Other Resources

1980 Referendum. Content archived on 9 June 2018
1980 Referendum on Sovereignty-Association - Statistical Material and Charts - Quebec History
Quebec referendum, 1980 - Wikipedia
Québec Referendum (1980) - The Canadian Encyclopedia. Content archived on 20 Dec. 2024
Referendum Question in 1980 – Societies and Territories

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Nous reconnaissons l'aide financière du Musée canadien de l'histoire à travers les œuvres du programme de référence en ligne financés par le gouvernement du Canada.

We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada.


Nous reconnaissons l’appui du gouvernement du Canada.

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