1919 Ontario prohibition 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under the Ontario Temperance Act, though a clause required a referendum to be held in 1919 on whether the Act should be repealed and the previous licensing laws subsequently revived.[1] A subsequent Act in 1919 provided three further questions for consideration, and subsequent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  %
11,141,595369,43432.4772,16167.6
21,142,900401,89335.2741,00764.8
31,142,613386,68033.8755,93366.2
41,142,894449,37039.3693,52460.7

As the majority voted no on all four questions, prohibition was not repealed.[5]

See also

References

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.
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