Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 31, 1995 TAG: 9510310123
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MONTREAL LENGTH: Medium
Losing by only 1 percent of the vote, the separatists quickly and defiantly vowed to try again for independence.
``To see it escape our grasp is hard to bear,'' said the separatists' charismatic leader, Lucien Bouchard. ``Let's keep the faith, because the next time will be the right time. And the next time could come quicker than you think.''
In nearly complete returns from 22,400 polling stations, the federalists led by 50.5 percent to 49.5 percent - 2,350,657 votes to 2,301,917 votes.
About 82 percent of Quebeckers are French-speaking, and roughly 60 percent of them voted for separation. As expected, roughly 90 percent of English-speaking and immigrant Quebeckers voted "no."
Federalists celebrated raucously at their headquarters, waving Canada's maple leaf flag amid a flurry of balloons. Not all was civil: Hundreds of "yes" and "no" supporters taunted one another in downtown Montreal, and a dozen came to blows after the results were announced.
Other separatist campaigners - who came closer than many had dreamed a few months ago - wept on each other's shoulders. But they came to life, cheering proudly, when Bouchard congratulated them for improving so dramatically from a 60-40 percent defeat in a 1980 independence referendum.
``We roll up our sleeves and we try again,'' said Bouchard's partner, Quebec Premier Jacques Parizeau. ``We won't wait 15 years this time. ... We want our country, and we will get it.''
Even if another referendum is not imminent, there will be immediate calls for constitutional reform.
``Canada on paper may still be a country - but there's something wrong with this country,'' said Louise Beaudoin, culture minister in Quebec's separatist government. ``We had 9 percent more than we had in 1980 - something has to be done.''
Some leading backers of the federalist side also said the narrow result should fuel the nationwide call for reforms that would end decades of constitutional wrangling.
by CNB