Oui ou non? La question: il y a 10 ans.

"Mes amis, C'est raté, mais pas de beaucoup."

It was with these words 10 years ago today that Quebec Premier Jacques Parizeau conceded defeat in the Quebec City sovereignty referendum. Parizeau had won the 1994 provincial election and promised to hold a referendum on Quebec sovereignty. The referendum was held on October 30, 1995, and I remember Canada being on edge wondering what a Yes vote would mean. In the end, the No side barely won. One of the first major impacts was Parizeau's concession speach, where he blamed the defeat on "money and the ethinc vote." It exposed a dark underside to Quebec nationalism and shocked many. After that, sovereignty declined as a critical issue. Even though the sovereigntist Parti Québecois had been re-elected in 1998, no referendum followed. Federalist Jean Charest defeated the sovereigntists in 2003, and the sovereigntist Bloc Quebecois lost seats consistently in federal elections following.

Yet sovereignty has become an issue. Last year allegations came to the front of unethical Liberal ad spending, much of it with the purpose of selling the federal government to Quebeckers following the referendum. Quebeckers were more angry than Canadians in other provinces; they felt they had been bought off. During last year's election, the Bloc rose to 54 seats, the most they'd ever won. The spending is now the subject of an inquiry by Justice John Gomery (the first part of which, ironically, is due to be released later this week).

I remember campaigns on the part of Canadians outside of Quebec to convince Quebeckers that they were an important part of Canada and that they should stay. I don't see that passion any more. I've talked to people who although they'd like to see Quebec stay, they believe, "if they want to go, let them go." We've had a long time now to think about and adjust to the possibility of an independent Quebec.

Back to the issue of Gomery, why did it happen? For years the federal government had played an active role in people's lives through the provision of services. In the name of cutting the deficit, Ottawa slashed funding to the provinces in the 90s, leaving them unable to fund their services essentially. Without this role in people's lives, the federal government had to resort to spending on logos that promoted federalism. That's why Quebeckers were outraged.

So what's Canada to do? On one encouraging note, the referendum was a yes/no question, but many Quebeckers don't see it that way, and the issues are more complicated than that. The federal government has a chance to take leadership on issues that affect people's lives wherever they live, leadership that is lacking at the moment. Prime Minister Martin had promised to call an election after the Gomery report is issued (the second of which is expected next year), so this election will present an opportunity to debate the future of this country and to forge a national vision with which to take Canada forward, to make it the great country it can be.

Vive le Canada!