In Quebec "ethnic " is any non-Francophone person so Parizeau was correct : it was money (federal funded No campaign) and the ethnic vote,  which included sufficient Asian  and African voters, that scuttled his referendum. He lost by less than 1% so he could have asked for a recount.   But he didn't dare because that would have exposed his corruption of ballot boxes stuffed with "Yes" votes.  He was absolutely sure he was going to win, and in the end all he could do was get drunk.