CHAPTER 10
The Two Question Referendum
“Until sovereignty there can be no territorial-based language solutions in Quebec.”[104]
-- Daniel Latouche
What is the Two Question Referendum?[105]
The Two Question Referendum is the process through which the exchange will take
place.
How does it work?
Unlike the referendums of 1980 and 1995, in which one question was asked of the
entire population on one day, the Two Question Referendum will be conducted
under a different format over two days:
Day 1
Only residents in Quebec West will be asked Question 1 on Day 1.
Day 2
There are two possibilities for Day 2:
i) If the vote tally on Question 1 on Day 1 is a majority “yes", the rest of
Quebec outside of Quebec West --Quebec Proper -- will vote on Question 1 on Day
2.
or
ii) If the vote tally on Question 1 on Day 1 is a majority “no", Question 1 is
defeated and is discarded. Then all the citizens of Quebec -- Quebec West and
Quebec Proper -- will vote on Question 2 on Day 2.
What is Question 1?
Question 1 combines two issues into one question. To answer “yes" to Question 1
necessitates, in effect, answering "yes" to both of the issues contained within
it.
The two issues are:
i) The independence of Quebec; and
ii) The creation of a province within the newly independent Quebec called Quebec
West.
How about Question 2?
Question 2 is concerned with only one issue: the independence of Quebec.
What is the wording of the two questions?
Question #1
"The Government of Quebec has made public
a proposal for Quebec to secede from its current political status as a
province within the country of Canada and become a fully independent
sovereign nation.
"The Government of Quebec has also made public a proposal to delineate a
geographic territory, within an independent Quebec, termed 'Quebec West', as
outlined in the public document titled ‘Quebec West: A Proposal.’
"Quebec West will be a province within the newly independent nation of
Quebec. Its territory and residents will be recognized as a distinct society
separate and distinct from the territory and residents of Quebec Proper (the
territory and residents of Quebec that is not Quebec West) which is itself a
distinct society.
"Inherent in the recognition of Quebec West as a distinct society is the
recognition of the right of the residents of Quebec West to determine for
themselves their own destiny, as regards the independence of Quebec and the
status of Quebec West, by a referendum to be given on a day prior to the
same referendum question for the residents of Quebec Proper.
"On these terms, do you give the Government of Quebec the mandate to secede
Quebec from Canada and establish it as a fully independent, sovereign nation
within which will exist the province 'Quebec West'?"
YES
NO
How about the text for Question #2?
Question #2
"The Government of Quebec has made public
a proposal for Quebec to secede from its current political status as a
province within the country of Canada and become a fully independent
sovereign nation.
"On these terms, do you give the Government of Quebec the mandate to secede
Quebec from Canada and establish it as a fully independent sovereign
nation?"
YES
NO
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