Ontario prohibition plebiscite, 1894
Encyclopedia
An 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
. Though the plebiscite passed, the results were non-binding and prohibition would not occur in Ontario until 1916.
Though unmarried women and widows were permitted to vote in the plebiscite, they voted in a ballot of a different colour (blue for women, yellow for men).
Provincial prohibition, though having majority support, would face another roadblock in 1896 when the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
determined that provinces do not have the authority to prohibit the importation of alcohol.
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...
. Though the plebiscite passed, the results were non-binding and prohibition would not occur in Ontario until 1916.
Plebiscite question
Are you in favour of the immediate prohibition by law of the importation, manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage?
Results
| Response | # of votes polled | % of votes polled |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 192,489 | 63.5 |
| No | 110,720 | 36.5 |
| Total | 303,209 | 100.0 |
Though unmarried women and widows were permitted to vote in the plebiscite, they voted in a ballot of a different colour (blue for women, yellow for men).
Provincial prohibition, though having majority support, would face another roadblock in 1896 when the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
determined that provinces do not have the authority to prohibit the importation of alcohol.
See also
- 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 As legislation prohibiting consumption of alcohol was repealed, it was typically replaced with regulation restricting the sale of alcohol to minors and imposing excise...
- 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 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 :...