1919 Ontario prohibition referendum

Ontario, Canada referendum

October 20, 1919
Repeal of Ontario Temperance Act
Yes
 
 32.4%
No
 
 67.6%
Sale of light beer through government agencies
Yes
 
 35.2%
No
 
 64.8%
Sale of light beer at hotels
Yes
 
 33.8%
No
 
 66.2%
Sale of liquor through government agencies
Yes
 
 39.3%
No
 
 60.7%

A referendum was held in Ontario, Canada on October 20, 1919 (in conjunction with the 15th provincial election) on the legality of alcoholic beverages and the maintaining of prohibition. Prohibition had been passed by the provincial government in 1916 under the Ontario Temperance Act, though a clause required a referendum to be held in 1919 on whether the Act should be repealed and the previous licensing laws subsequently revived.[1] A subsequent Act in 1919 provided three further questions for consideration, and subsequent implementation on approval.[2] A majority voted against all four questions, and prohibition was maintained.[3]

Referendum questions

  1. Are you in favour of the repeal of the Ontario Temperance Act?
  2. 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?
  3. 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?
  4. Are you in favour of the sale of spirituous and malt liquors through Government agencies and amendments to the Ontario Temperance Act to permit such sale?[4]

Unlike past prohibition referendums, the four questions were binding upon receiving a majority vote.[3]

Results

Referendum results[5]
Question Total votes Yes No
Votes % Votes %
1 1,141,595 369,434 32.4 772,161 67.6
2 1,142,900 401,893 35.2 741,007 64.8
3 1,142,613 386,680 33.8 755,933 66.2
4 1,142,894 449,370 39.3 693,524 60.7

As the majority voted no on all four questions, prohibition was not repealed.[5]

Gallery

  • 1919 Ontario referendum ballot, with suggested answers, as shown in The Acton Free Press (October 16, 1919)
    1919 Ontario referendum ballot, with suggested answers, as shown in The Acton Free Press (October 16, 1919)
  • A 1919 newspaper advertisement by the Ontario Referendum Committee in support of the Ontario Temperance Act
    A 1919 newspaper advertisement by the Ontario Referendum Committee in support of the Ontario Temperance Act
  • A 1919 advertisement by the Citizens' Liberty League in its campaign to repeal Prohibition in Ontario
    A 1919 advertisement by the Citizens' Liberty League in its campaign to repeal Prohibition in Ontario

See also

  • Prohibition in Canada
  • Canada Temperance Act
  • 1894 Ontario prohibition plebiscite
  • 1902 Ontario prohibition referendum
  • 1921 Ontario prohibition referendum
  • 1924 Ontario prohibition referendum

References

  1. ^ The Ontario Temperance Act, S.O. 1916, c. 50, s. 147
  2. ^ The Temperance Referendum Act, 1919, S.O. 1919, c. 61
  3. ^ a b Johnston & Sage 2007, p. 8.
  4. ^ Johnston & Sage 2007, p. 7.
  5. ^ a b Johnston & Sage 2007, p. 9.

Bibliography

  • Johnston, Larry; Sage, Rick (2007). "Referendums in Ontario: An Historical Summary" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2007.