hip ▁Court ▁jud ges ▁from ▁across ▁Canada ▁were ▁sent ▁into ▁the ▁province ▁to ▁ensure ▁as ▁many ▁qualified ▁imm igr ants ▁living ▁in ▁Quebec ▁as ▁possible ▁had ▁Canadian ▁citizens hip ▁before ▁the ▁refer endum , ▁and ▁thus ▁were ▁able ▁to ▁vote . ▁The ▁goal ▁was ▁to ▁have ▁ 1 0 , 0 0 0 ▁to ▁ 2 0 , 0 0 0 ▁out standing ▁citizens hip ▁applications ▁processed ▁for ▁residents ▁of ▁Quebec ▁by ▁mid - Oct ober . ▁ 4 3 , 8 5 5 ▁new ▁Quebec ers ▁obtained ▁their ▁Canadian ▁citizens hip ▁during ▁ 1 9 9 5 , ▁with ▁about ▁one ▁quarter ▁of ▁these ▁( 1 1 , 4 2 9 ) ▁being ▁granted ▁during ▁the ▁month ▁of ▁October . ▁When ▁confront ed ▁about ▁the ▁issue ▁by ▁a ▁B loc ▁Qu éb é co is ▁MP ▁who ▁suggested ▁shortcut s ▁were ▁being ▁taken ▁to ▁hur ry ▁citizens hip ▁applications ▁for ▁imm igr ants ▁who ▁would ▁most ▁likely ▁vote ▁" No ", ▁Minister ▁of ▁Cit iz ens hip ▁and ▁Im m igration ▁Ser gio ▁Mar chi ▁respond ed ▁that ▁this ▁was ▁common ▁before ▁provincial ▁election ▁campaign s ▁in ▁other ▁provinces . ▁ ▁Sp ending ▁limits ▁and ▁Option ▁Canada ▁ ▁The ▁Canadian ▁Unity ▁Council ▁incorpor ated ▁a ▁Montreal - based ▁lo bb ying ▁group ▁called ▁Option ▁Canada ▁with ▁the ▁mand ate ▁to ▁promote ▁federal ism ▁in ▁Quebec . ▁Option ▁Canada ▁received ▁$ 1 . 6 ▁million ▁in ▁fund ing ▁from ▁the ▁Canadian ▁Heritage ▁Department ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4 , ▁$ 3 .