The Predicted Economic and Social Consequences of Quebec Separation
Abstract
On October 30, 1995, a referendum vote was held in Canada. The issue on which
the people of Quebec voted was whether or not the province was going to separate from
the rest of Canada and to become a sovereign state. The margin between those who
submitted a "Yes" vote and those who voted "No" was very small, less than one percent.
Although Quebec remains a part of Canada today, there is a question as to the longevity
of the country retaining all of its constituent parts.
This paper examines the normative question of whether it is in Quebec' s best
interest to separate itself from the other nine provinces that comprise Canada. By
examining two issues, the economic and the social aspects of Quebec sovereignty, one
will better be able to understand the situation, its implications on Quebec, on Canada, and
on other countries.