Canadian prohibition plebiscite, 1898
Encyclopedia
A plebiscite on prohibition
was held in Canada
on 29 September 1898, the first national referendum in the country's history. The non-binding plebiscite saw 51.3% in favour of introducing prohibition, although turnout was only 44%. A majority voted for its introduction in all provinces except Quebec, where 81.2% opposed it.
Despite the majority in favour, Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier
's government chose not to introduce a federal bill on prohibition. As a result, Canadian prohibition was instead enacted through laws passed by the provinces during the first twenty years of the 20th century.
Prohibition in Canada
The temperance movement reached its height in Canada in the 1920s, when outside imports were cut off by provincial referendums. As legislation prohibiting consumption of alcohol was repealed, it was typically replaced with regulation restricting the sale of alcohol to minors and imposing excise...
was held in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on 29 September 1898, the first national referendum in the country's history. The non-binding plebiscite saw 51.3% in favour of introducing prohibition, although turnout was only 44%. A majority voted for its introduction in all provinces except Quebec, where 81.2% opposed it.
Despite the majority in favour, Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
's government chose not to introduce a federal bill on prohibition. As a result, Canadian prohibition was instead enacted through laws passed by the provinces during the first twenty years of the 20th century.
Results
| Jurisdiction | For Prohibition | Against Prohibution | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Alberta and Saskatchewan | 6,238 | 68.8 | 2,824 | 31.2 |
| British Columbia | 5,731 | 54.6 | 4,756 | 45.4 |
| Manitoba | 12,419 | 80.6 | 2,978 | 19.4 |
| New Brunswick | 26,919 | 72.2 | 9,575 | 27.7 |
| Nova Scotia | 34,368 | 87.2 | 5,370 | 12.8 |
| Ontario | 154,498 | 57.3 | 115,284 | 42.7 |
| Prince Edward Island | 9,461 | 89.2 | 1,146 | 10.8 |
| Quebec | 28,436 | 18.8 | 122,760 | 81.2 |
| Canada | 278,380 | 51.2 | 264,693 | 48.8 |