What was the 1980 Quebec referendum?

The 1980 Quebec referendum was the first sovereignty referendum held in Quebec, on May 20, 1980. The referendum was called by Premier René Lévesque's Parti Québécois (PQ) government to seek a mandate to negotiate sovereignty-association (a confederal arrangement in which Quebec would become politically sovereign while maintaining an economic association with Canada) with the federal government. The federalist No side won decisively with 59.6 per cent of the vote to 40.4 per cent for the sovereignty-association Yes side.

The PQ had won power in the November 15, 1976 provincial election, the first sovereignty-oriented government in Canadian history. The PQ's constitutional position was that Quebec should become politically sovereign through democratic referendum, after which Quebec would negotiate an economic association with the rest of Canada (the 'Beau Risque' or 'Beautiful Risk' position). The 1979 Quebec White Paper set out this vision, and the National Assembly passed enabling legislation for the referendum on March 14, 1980.

The referendum question (in French) read: 'The Government of Quebec has made public its proposal to negotiate a new agreement with the rest of Canada, based on the equality of nations; this agreement would enable Quebec to acquire the exclusive power to make its laws, levy its taxes and establish relations abroad (in other words, sovereignty), and at the same time to maintain with Canada an economic association including a common currency; any change in political status resulting from these negotiations will only be effected with popular approval through another referendum; on these terms, do you give the Government of Quebec the mandate to negotiate the proposed agreement between Quebec and Canada?'

Federal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and Liberal leaders led the No campaign. Trudeau's May 14, 1980 speech at the Paul Sauvé Arena in Montreal (promising 'renewed federalism' if the No side won) is considered one of the most important Canadian political speeches of the 20th century. The federal Liberals committed to constitutional renewal that became the patriation effort of 1980 to 1982. The 1980 referendum was particularly consequential because it precipitated the Constitution Act, 1982 and the broader patriation effort. The PQ continued in office and called a second referendum in 1995 (which the No side won much more narrowly). The 1980 referendum result produced about 80 per cent voter turnout, one of the highest in Canadian electoral history.