----------------------------Original message---------------------------- QUEBEC REFERENDUM RESULTS (Excuse any cross-postings.) For those wishing to see some contemporary Canadian history mapped, please look at the site address below. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Referendum result was as close as the polls predicted. The Non gained 50.6% and the Oui 49.4% of the vote. Its impact and the continuing political fall out continue to be the number one news. It proved impossible to declare the winning "non" result (to the 'sovereignty for Quebec' option) on the night until 97% of the polls had been counted. Overall there was a 93% turnout (98% in the highest riding) and the no. of spoiled ballots was larger than the winning plurality. To make it even more of a cliff-hanger, the "Oui" were winning for the first hour and a half after closure of polls and only after the count for the large constituencies for the Island of Montreal started coming in, did the balance tip in favour of 'Non'. The result now sets in a period of intense constitutional debate that has been heightened by the unexpected resignation the day after the Referendum of the Quebec premier, M.Jacques Parizeau. The Leader of the Opposition and Head of the Bloc Quebecois in the House of Commons, M. Bouchard, has not yet announced whether he will run for the provincial leadership. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Dr.Iain C. Taylor XX Have you sampled?: Chief Geographer XX Hot Topics - Referendum Results map XX http://www-nais.ccm.emr.ca/schoolnet2/ XX hottopic National Atlas XX GIS&S XX Earth Sciences XX Natural Resources Canada XX [log in to unmask] XX NEW BIBLIOGRAPHY: THEMATIC ATLASES OF fax 613-943-8282 XX CANADA since 1945 phone 613-992-4028 XX NAIS on the Web URL: XX http://www-nais.ccm.emr.ca/ XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Any comments are mine and not those of Natural Resources Canada or the Government of Canada. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX