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Article: Apres Bouchard; Canada; A setback for Quebec's separatists.(The Americas)(Premier Lucien Bouchard resigns)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- January 20, 2001
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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IF THE idea of seceding from Canada could ever be sold to the people of Quebec, Lucien Bouchard had seemed the man to sell it. Last week, however, the mercurial Mr Bouchard abruptly resigned from his dual role as premier of Quebec and head of the separatist Parti Quebecois ( PQ ). So is Canada saved?
Much of English Canada seems to think so. "The nightmare of Quebec separatism has receded," said Roy Romanow, the outgoing premier of Saskatchewan. Such triumphalism may be premature: polls show almost 40% still want secession. But Mr Bouchard's exit is certainly a heavy blow to an ailing cause.
In a referendum in 1995, Mr Bouchard, then the secessionists' ...