Quebec had the referendum, not Canada. Only Quebec voted and they had a 93% turnout for the voting. If the separatists won and QC left Canada they would have been fucked. Canada would have suffered immensely too. The pride of being independent as French citizens was more important than economic and political stability, I think it's similar for Britain as well... But they will soon find out. A referendum isn't the final step, but there is no doubt that they will exit the EU in a few years.