page_title: 1995 Quebec referendum
section_title: Contingency preparation for a "Yes" victory
hierarchical_section_title: 1995 Quebec referendum / Contingency preparation for a "Yes" victory
caption_attribution_description: Action Démocratique du Québec leader Mario Dumont
context_page_description: The 1995 Quebec independence referendum was the second referendum to ask voters in the Canadian French-speaking province of Quebec whether Quebec should proclaim national sovereignty and become an independent country, with the condition precedent of offering a political and economic agreement to Canada.
  The culmination of multiple years of debate and planning after the failure of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown constitutional accords, the referendum was launched solely by the provincial Parti Québécois government of Jacques Parizeau. Despite initial predictions of a heavy sovereignist defeat, an eventful and complex campaign followed, with the "Yes" side flourishing after being taken over by Bloc Québécois leader Lucien Bouchard.
  The fast rise of the "Yes" campaign and apparent inability of the personalities of the "No" campaign to counter their message created an atmosphere of great uncertainty, both in the federal government and across Canada.
  Voting took place on 30 October 1995, and featured the largest voter turnout in Quebec's history. The "No" option carried by 54,288 votes.
caption: Mario Dumont, leader of the ADQ and member of the "Yes" side.
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