Jacques Parizeau dead at 84

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The Quebec premier known for almost breaking up Canada has died.

Jacques Parizeau led Quebec in the year leading up to the 1995 sovereignty referendum that was defeated by the narrowest of margins, 50.58% to 49.42%.

Parizeau announced he would resign the day after the referendum, following a concession speech where he blamed, quote,  “money and the ethnic vote” for the loss.

Parizeau’s wife announced the former premier’s death last night on her facebook page, writing “the man of my life has gone… After a titanic fight, hospitalized for five months, facing challenges one after the other with extraordinary courage and determination, he passed away… We are devastated.”

Parizeau was 84 years old.