Thirty years after the 1995 referendum, when Quebecers came within a hair’s breadth of voting to leave Canada, those who lived through it still remember the emotion of that time.

They recall the drama of an unpredictable campaign, the fears and frustrations, and the relief — or anguish — when it was all over.

Related: • 30 years later: Quebec’s 1995 referendum and the night that almost changed everything

CityNews is looking back on the ’95 referendum with Montreal Gazette journalist Philip Authier, who covered the “yes” campaign.

So let’s start off. What stands out to the most when you look back at covering that 95 referendum?

It was, certainly at the beginning, like covering an election campaign. It was a kind of a debate of ideas and a bazillion numbers about whether Quebec could

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