Ontario prohibition referendum, 1919
Encyclopedia
An Ontario prohibition referendum was held on October 20, 1919 (in conjunction with the 15th provincial election
), on the repeal of the prohibition
of alcoholic beverages. Prohibition had been passed by the provincial government in 1916
under the Ontario Temperance Act
, though a clause required a referendum to be held on the issue after three years.
Unlike past prohibition referendums, the four questions were binding upon receiving a majority vote.
As none of the questions received a majority vote, prohibition was not repealed.
Ontario general election, 1919
The Ontario general election, 1919 was the 15th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on October 20, 1919, to elect the 111 Members of the 15th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ....
), on the repeal of the 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...
of alcoholic beverages. Prohibition had been passed by the provincial government in 1916
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 As legislation prohibiting consumption of alcohol was repealed, it was typically replaced with regulation restricting the sale of alcohol to minors and imposing excise...
under the Ontario Temperance Act
Ontario Temperance Act
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...
, though a clause required a referendum to be held on the issue after three years.
Referendum question
- Are you in favour of the repeal of the Ontario Temperance Act?
- Are you in favour of the sale of light beer containing not more than two and fifty-one hundredths per cent alcohol weight measure through Government agencies and amendments to the Ontario Temperance Act to permit such sale?
- Are you in favour of the sale of light beer containing not more than two and fifty-one hundredths per cent alcohol weight measure in standard hotels in local municipalities that by a majority vote favour such sale and amendments to the Ontario Temperance Act to permit such sale?
- Are you in favour of the sale of spirituous
Distilled beverageA distilled beverage, liquor, or spirit is an alcoholic beverage containing ethanol that is produced by distilling ethanol produced by means of fermenting grain, fruit, or vegetables...
and malt liquorMalt liquorMalt liquor is a North American term referring to a type of beer with high alcohol content. In legal statutes, the term often includes any alcoholic beverage above or equal to 5% alcohol by volume made with malted barley. In common parlance, however, it is used for high-alcohol beers made with...
s through Government agencies and amendments to the Ontario Temperance Act to permit such sale?
Unlike past prohibition referendums, the four questions were binding upon receiving a majority vote.
Question 1 (repeal of Ontario Temperance Act)
| Response | # of votes polled | % of votes polled |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 369,434 | 32.4 |
| No | 772,161 | 67.6 |
| Total | 1,141,595 | 100.0 |
Question 2 (sale of light beer through government agencies)
| Response | # of votes polled | % of votes polled |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 401,893 | 35.2 |
| No | 741,007 | 64.8 |
| Total | 1,142,900 | 100.0 |
Question 3 (sale of light beer through hotels)
| Response | # of votes polled | % of votes polled |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 386,680 | 33.8 |
| No | 755,933 | 66.2 |
| Total | 1,142,613 | 100.0 |
Question 4 (sale of spirits and malts through government agencies)
| Response | # of votes polled | % of votes polled |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 449,370 | 39.3 |
| No | 693,524 | 60.7 |
| Total | 1,142,894 | 100.0 |
As none of the questions received a majority vote, prohibition was not repealed.
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, 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...