the question announced on december 20, 1979 was: "the government of quebec has made public its proposal to negotiate a new agreement with the rest of canada, based on the equality of nations; this agreement would enable quebec to acquire the exclusive power to make its laws, levy its taxes and establish relations abroad — in other words, sovereignty — and at the same time to maintain with canada an economic association including a common currency; any change in political status resulting from these negotiations will only be implemented with popular approval through another referendum; on these terms, do you give the government of quebec the mandate to negotiate the proposed agreement between quebec and canada?"