1919 Ontario prohibition referendum

An Ontario prohibition referendum was held on October 20, 1919 (in conjunction with the 15th provincial election), on the liquor question. It included four questions, one on the general repeal of the prohibition of alcoholic beverages and three on limited sales of liquor. 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.

This was the first occasion for newly-enfranchised women to vote provincially and for returned soldiers to vote as well.[1]

Referendum question
  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?

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

Results

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As the majority voted no on all four questions, prohibition was not repealed.

See also

References
  1. Edmonton Bulletin, October 20, 1919
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