Ontario Temperance Act
Encyclopedia
Ontario Temperance Act was a law passed in Ontario
in 1916 to prohibit the sale of alcohol, a period known as Prohibition
. This meant the province remained dry in legal terms, but smugglers continued to import alcohol into the province. The cause was the demand of religious elements led by women. Specifically they were pietistic Protestants, especially Methodists, seeking to eliminate what they considered the evil effects of liquor, especially violence, family abuse, and political corruption. Barron (1980) shows that the Ontario movement was modelled on the prohibition movement in the United States.
Tennyson (1963) reports that that Ontario had had "local option" since 1876; one after another many municipalities went "dry" by 1914. Supporters of the World War called for temperance to reduce waste, inefficiency and distractions. Premier William Hearst emphasized the need in 1914, despite complaints from wet elements of his own Conservative Party.
Following the passage of act, a follow-up referendum showed approval of the ban in 1919. In 1921 another referendum showed a slight slip in support, but the province was bone dry and was attempting again to ban importation (and failed due to federal disapproval). By 1924 the provincial government began to press for lighter restriction and call for sale by the province. The 1924 referendum showed even support for and against the Act. Premier Ferguson began the steps to repeal the act by ending regular referendums and pressure on the Legislature to decide on the future of the Act.
until the 1970s and one part of The Junction
neighbourhood of Toronto
remained "dry" until 2000, largely due to the efforts of socialist, and former Ontario CCF
Member of Provincial Parliament for High Park, William Temple
. The act was replaced by the Liquor Licence Act (Ontario) in March 1927.
The Act had failed due to the inability of the provincial government to effectively control consumption and importation of alcohol into the province. The lack of federal support also lead the Act's demise.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in 1916 to prohibit the sale of alcohol, a period known as Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
. This meant the province remained dry in legal terms, but smugglers continued to import alcohol into the province. The cause was the demand of religious elements led by women. Specifically they were pietistic Protestants, especially Methodists, seeking to eliminate what they considered the evil effects of liquor, especially violence, family abuse, and political corruption. Barron (1980) shows that the Ontario movement was modelled on the prohibition movement in the United States.
History
Prior the Act there were two failed attempts made to control or eliminate sale of alcohol in the province. The plebiscite 1894 failed due to federal disapproval of provincial control on importation of alcohol. Another attempt in 1902 failed due to low voter turnout.Tennyson (1963) reports that that Ontario had had "local option" since 1876; one after another many municipalities went "dry" by 1914. Supporters of the World War called for temperance to reduce waste, inefficiency and distractions. Premier William Hearst emphasized the need in 1914, despite complaints from wet elements of his own Conservative Party.
Following the passage of act, a follow-up referendum showed approval of the ban in 1919. In 1921 another referendum showed a slight slip in support, but the province was bone dry and was attempting again to ban importation (and failed due to federal disapproval). By 1924 the provincial government began to press for lighter restriction and call for sale by the province. The 1924 referendum showed even support for and against the Act. Premier Ferguson began the steps to repeal the act by ending regular referendums and pressure on the Legislature to decide on the future of the Act.
Repeal and Government as alcohol retailer
The Act was finally repealed in 1927, but some communities maintained a ban on the sale of liquor under local optionLocal Option
Local Option is a term used to describe the freedom whereby local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, can decide by popular vote certain controversial issues within their borders. In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage sales...
until the 1970s and one part of The Junction
The Junction
The Junction is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that is near the junction of four railway lines in the area known as the West Toronto Diamond. The neighbourhood was previously an independent city called West Toronto, that was also its own federal electoral district until amalgamating...
neighbourhood of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
remained "dry" until 2000, largely due to the efforts of socialist, and former Ontario CCF
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (Ontario Section)
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation – The Farmer-Labor Party of Ontario, or more informally and commonly known as The Ontario CCF, was a democratic socialist political party that existed from 1932 to 1961. It was the provincial wing of the National CCF. The party officially had no leader in...
Member of Provincial Parliament for High Park, William Temple
William Horace Temple
William Horace Temple , nicknamed "Temperance Bill" or "Temperance Willie", was a Canadian democratic socialist politician, trade union activist, businessman and temperance crusader. As a youth he worked for the railway. During World War I, and World War II he was a soldier in the Royal Naval...
. The act was replaced by the Liquor Licence Act (Ontario) in March 1927.
The Act had failed due to the inability of the provincial government to effectively control consumption and importation of alcohol into the province. The lack of federal support also lead the Act's demise.
See also
- Canada Temperance ActCanada Temperance ActThe Canada Temperance Act was an Act of the Parliament of Canada in 1878, which provided for an option for municipalities to opt-in by plebiscite to a prohibitionary scheme...
1878 - Ontario prohibition plebiscite, 1894Ontario prohibition plebiscite, 1894An Ontario prohibition plebiscite was held on January 1, 1894, in conjunction with municipal elections under the Prohibition Plebiscite Act, on the legality of alcoholic beverages and the implementation of prohibition...
- Ontario prohibition referendum, 1902Ontario prohibition referendum, 1902An Ontario prohibition referendum was held on December 4, 1902, under the Liquor Act, on the legality of alcoholic beverages and the implementation of prohibition in the province. Though the referendum passed, a majority of half of the voters in the 1898 election did not support the motion and...
- Ontario prohibition referendum, 1919Ontario prohibition referendum, 1919An Ontario prohibition referendum was held on October 20, 1919 , on the repeal of the prohibition of alcoholic beverages...
- Ontario prohibition referendum, 1921Ontario prohibition referendum, 1921An Ontario prohibition referendum was held on April 18, 1921 concerning a ban on the importation of alcoholic beverages into Ontario.- Referendum question :Shall the importation and the bringing of intoxicating liquors into the province be forbidden?...
- Ontario prohibition referendum, 1924Ontario prohibition referendum, 1924An Ontario prohibition referendum was held on October 23, 1924 on the repeal of the Ontario Temperance Act. The referendum was brought about by a clause in the Act, which permitted the possible repeal of prohibition by a majority vote.- Referendum question :...
- Prohibition in CanadaProhibition in CanadaThe 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...
- Ontario (Attorney General) v. Canada Temperance FederationOntario (Attorney General) v. Canada Temperance FederationOntario v. Canada Temperance Federation was a famous Canadian constitutional decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and was among the first cases to examine the peace, order, and good government power of the Constitution Act, 1867...
- Attorney-General for Ontario v. Attorney-General for the DominionAttorney-General for Ontario v. Attorney-General for the DominionAttorney General for Ontario v. Attorney General for the Dominion, and the Distillers and Brewers’ Association of Ontario , [1896] A.C...
- Alcohol and Gaming Regulation and Public Protection Act (Ontario)Alcohol and Gaming Regulation and Public Protection Act (Ontario)Alcohol and Gaming Regulation and Public Protection Act is an act governing the sale of alcohol and gaming regulation on Ontario. The act is responsible for the administration of the*Liquor Licence Act ,*Gaming Control Act , 1992...
Further reading
- Barron, F. L. "The American origins of the Temperance Movement in Ontario," Canadian Review of American Studies, 1980, p131-150
- Tennyson, Brian. "Sir Wiliam Hearst and the Ontario Temperance Act," Ontario History, Dec 1963, Vol. 55 Issue 4, pp 233-245