MONTREAL — The 1995 referendum on independence took place 30 years ago on Thursday, when a razor-thin majority of Quebecers voted to stay in Canada. After a dramatic campaign during which the sovereigntist side came from behind to take a lead in the polls in the final weeks before the vote, 50.58 per cent of voters chose “no.”

Here are five things you may not know — or may have forgotten — about the 1995 referendum.

Foreign influence

International leaders played a role in the federalist and sovereigntist campaigns. In February 1995, U.S. President Bill Clinton addressed the Canadian Parliament and signalled clearly that his administration favoured a united Canada.

“In a world darkened by ethnic conflicts that literally tear nations apart, Canada has stood for all of us as a model of ho

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