The October 30 vote on Quebec autonomy showed a strengthening of Quebecois resistance to national oppression since the previous referendum in 1980. Ottawa won the vote (by a 1.2 percent margin). But it clearly comes out as the loser. For Canada's capitalist rulers, confronted with a serious crisis for their economy, the 49.4 percent "Yes" vote for independence is certainly bad news.
The growing support for Quebec sovereignty since 1980 means that Ottawa has not succeeded in breaking the confidence of millions of working people in Quebec whose aspiration to equality, dignity, and justice has become irrepressible.
Quebecois are a French-speaking oppressed nationality representing 80 percent of the 7 million people living in Quebec. The discrimination they suffer on the basis of the language they speak, the denial of their right to self- determination, has been a pillar of capitalist domination in Canada for over 150 years.
But the Quebecois fight against national oppression has succeeded in reducing the gap between those who speak French and those who speak English in Canada. Gains have been made in terms of income, education, and health care - gains that have strengthened the working class as a whole in Canada.
It is this reality that is haunting Ottawa and the capitalist rulers it represents as they try to shift the burden of their economic decline on workers through drastic cuts in social services and programs and through undermining the democratic rights of working people.
Ottawa's scare campaign during the referendum battle did not succeed in deepening divisions between workers who speak French and those who speak English. It did not succeed in whipping up anti-Quebec chauvinist sentiments among working people either.
The mobilization of tens of thousands in rallies, meetings, debates, demonstrations, and parades during the last few weeks in Quebec has put the question of sovereignty back on the table for all working people to consider, discuss, and act on for some time to come.
But the referendum campaign also clearly showed that in their fight against oppression and discrimination working people across Canada cannot count on capitalist politicians. Through their attacks on women, immigrants, and Natives, leaders of the Parti Quebecois and Bloc Quebecois, who were calling for a Yes vote, have undermined the support for Quebec sovereignty. The Quebec government cuts in social services since its election a year ago also undermined some of the main gains made against Quebecois national oppression over the last few decades.
It is through common fights for their rights, for jobs for all and for better living and working conditions, and in opposition to slashing of social entitlements that working people will keep undercutting the divisions imposed on them by the capitalist rulers.
The fight against the national oppression of Quebecois and other oppressed nationalities in Canada is an essential contribution to achieving working-class unity - and eventually from the yoke of capitalism.