A dual Canadian-Scottish citizen who voted against separation in Quebec nearly 20 years ago is set to vote for Scottish independence in the northern United Kingdom country Thursday.
Steve Gibson, who was born and raised in White Rock, B.C., cast his ballot as a Quebec resident in the 1995 question on separation.
Back then, Gibson checked the 'no' box, citing mistrust of what would happen to a divided Canada with such a powerful neighbour to the south. "I thought that [the United States had] a different way of life than I perceive Canada's to be."
This time around, he`ll be checking 'yes.'
On The Coast's Stephen Quinn caught up with the Edinburgh-based Gibson on the final day of campaigning. Here's some of what he had to say.
On how the mood in Quebec in 1995 compares with the mood in Scotland today:
The Quebec referendum was dominated by a very ethnic sort of nationalism. You could really feel it there. Personally, I felt like I was a second-class citizen because I was an English speaker, and there was [then-Quebec Premier Jacques] Parizeau, basically blaming ethnic voters for the loss of the referendum. I don't get that sense from the Scottish referendum. It seems much more civil. I'm not saying that people haven't been telling some lies here and there on both sides, but it seems less emotionally charged. I get the feeling this has been a very positive debate rather than a divisive one.
On the outcome of tomorrow's referendum being too close to call:
There was one last week–51 yes, 49 no–and that caused an incredible storm here in the UK. It caused [British Prime Minister David] Cameron and the whole Westminster team to come up here to Scotland in an effort to sway voters. I'm not sure that was exactly the best plan.
On tactics used by the 'no' camp:
Both sides have indulged in exaggeration. The 'no' side would be the one fear-mongering, saying that your grocery bills will go up if there's independence, that money will flee Scotland. The former sounds a bit ridiculous to me. The latter... it's hard to say. It's all speculation. Let's be frank, Scotland has a lot of oil money. Whether that will last, I don't know, but England stands to lose if Scotland leaves the union.
On voting 'yes' for independence:
I think Scotland presents a different model from the Westminster vision of England, which I find quite brutal and quite corrupt. I don't think I'd be the only one to say that. I don't think it'll be all sunshine and roses if it's a yes vote, but I do think it's got to be better than the current situation which really is just ruled by a kind of elite public school boy club from Westminster.
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