Six days prior to the tense 1995 Quebec referendum that nearly caused division in the nation, Jean Chrétien advised his ministers to stay composed. The prime minister recognized the possibility of Quebecers voting for separation on October 30. He emphasized that it was not the appropriate time to deliberate on the repercussions of independence, but if it occurred, everyone should refrain from panicking or making hasty decisions.
Recently revealed federal cabinet minutes, obtained by The Canadian Press, shed light on the serious message delivered by Chrétien during a closed-door meeting. In the lead-up to the referendum, Chrétien had displayed optimism about the campaign. However, the meeting minutes from 30 years ago indicate a significant shift in the discussions at the federal cabinet table as Canada grappled with a national unity crisis.
The documents, made public through access to information legislation, provide a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes actions during a critical period in Canada’s history. They depict a campaign that veered off course abruptly, a prime minister urging his cabinet to remain calm, and a last-minute scramble to preserve national unity.
During the meeting on October 24, 1995, just before the vote, Chrétien informed his cabinet that he would take a more central role in the campaign. Up to that point, the prime minister and other federal officials had mostly stayed on the periphery of the campaign, which was spearheaded by the Quebec Liberal leader.
Chrétien underscored the seriousness of the situation while cautioning his ministers against being excessively distressed. In the days preceding the referendum, the federalist campaign witnessed a diminishing lead in the polls as Lucien Bouchard, a charismatic figure, rallied support for Quebec’s separation.
According to the minutes, several non-Quebec ministers expressed discontent about being sidelined in a debate that could profoundly impact the country’s future. They stressed the importance of Chrétien taking a more proactive role and speaking sincerely. The prime minister announced his intention to deliver a televised address to the nation the following day.
Chrétien’s statements during the October 24 meeting contrast with discussions from previous cabinet meetings leading up to the October campaign, where the prime minister had questioned whether an independence vote would even take place.
Ultimately, the federalists narrowly won the referendum with 50.58% of the vote. The day after, Chrétien reminded his ministers to project a positive attitude publicly and in front of the media, portraying the referendum outcome as a triumph for Canada.
Deputy Prime Minister at the time, Sheila Copps, remarked in a recent interview, “Had he not intervened… I think we would have lost the country.”
The 1995 referendum campaign officially commenced on October 2, although it had unofficially begun months earlier. Quebec Premier Jacques Parizeau had pledged to hold a referendum within a year following his 1994 election, initiating public consultations in early 1995 to garner support for independence.
At that time, Chrétien instructed his cabinet to “remain calm and avoid any overreaction.” He stated that the referendum campaign was still distant, and there was little to be done at that moment. The provincial Liberal leader, Daniel Johnson, would lead the “No” campaign, not the prime minister, as Chrétien, who was not well-liked in Quebec, was advised to stay out of it, as noted by Copps.
In the spring, tensions arose within the separatist movement as leaders debated the wording of the referendum question. Parizeau advocated for a clean break from the rest of Canada, while Bouchard, then-leader of the Bloc Québécois, believed Quebecers needed the promise of an economic partnership with Canada to support independence.
Cabinet records are typically confidential but can be disclosed under access to information laws after 20 years. The Privy Council Office initially censored parts of the records before releasing them under transparency regulations. However, some passages were later uncensored following an investigation by the federal information watchdog.
In March 1995, when it appeared unlikely that Parizeau would call for a vote that spring, Chrétien speculated that sovereigntists were hesitant to hold a referendum. In April, he suggested the possibility that a vote might not occur at all, citing Quebec editorials advocating for a delay.
Despite positive signs, Lucienne Robillard, the minister overseeing the federal campaign, cautioned in the spring against appearing overly triumphant. By summer, the situation began to shift.
In June, Parizeau agreed to a pact with Bouchard and Mario Dumont, the leader of the Action démocratique du Québec, ensuring that the referendum question would include an offer of a new political and economic partnership with Canada. Chrétien described the agreement to his ministers as a strategy to confuse Quebecers about the referendum’s implications.
In August, Robillard presented polling data to the cabinet indicating that a majority of Quebecers intended to vote against independence, though the prospect
