Débutant 50+ Quebec Referendum. In 1995, millions of quebecers cast their ballots in a referendum, ultimately rejecting separation. Quebec referendum of 1995, referendum held in the canadian province of quebec on october 30, 1995, that proposed sovereignty for the province within a new economic and political partnership. Quebec came within a small margin of separating from canada exactly 25 years ago. Over the course of the campaign, federalists nervously watched the lead slip away.