1894 Ontario prohibition plebiscite

Last updated

1894 Ontario prohibition plebiscite
Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg
January 1, 1894

Are you in favour of the immediate prohibition by law, of the importation, manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage.
Results
Choice
Votes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svgYes192,48963.48%
Light brown x.svgNo110,72036.52%
Total votes303,209100.00%

A plebiscite on the legality of alcoholic beverages was held in Ontario, Canada on January 1, 1894. Per the terms of the Prohibition Plebiscite Act passed in 1893, a plebiscite was held on the issue of prohibition in conjunction with the 1894 municipal elections. Though a majority of voters indicated support for prohibition, the results were non-binding and prohibition would not occur in Ontario until 1916.

Contents

Plebiscite question

An Act of the Legislature specified the form of the question posed: [1]

Are you in favour of the immediate prohibition by law, of the importation, manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage. [2]

Voting only occurred within the various constituted municipalities. [3] Anyone who lived in unorganized areas of the Province was unable to participate. [4]

Results

Response# of votes polled% of votes polled [5]
Yes192,48963.5
No110,72036.5
Total303,209100.0

Unmarried women and widows were permitted to vote in the plebiscite, though they voted in a ballot of a different colour (blue for women, yellow for men). Though the plebiscite passed, the results were non-binding and prohibition would not occur in Ontario until 1916. [2] Provincial prohibition, though having majority support, would face another roadblock in 1896 when the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council determined that provinces do not have the authority to prohibit the importation of alcohol. [6]

Analysis

1894 Ontario plebiscite - analysis of results by municipality [7]
TypeChoiceAll municipalitiesYesNo
MaleFemaleTotal%MunicipalitiesMaleFemaleTotal%MunicipalitiesMaleFemaleTotal%
CountiesYes145,5048,736154,24064.7535137,8388,182146,02066.6037,6665548,22043.39
No82,5781,38283,96035.2572,0491,18773,23633.4010,52919510,72456.61
Total228,08210,118238,200100.00209,8879,369219,256100.0018,19574918,944100.00
Majority62,9267,35470,28029.5065,7896,99572,78433.202,863(359)2,50413.22
Turnout59.55%59.62%58.76%
DistrictsYes5,1362095,34564.1075,1362095,34564.10Nil
No2,951422,99335.902,951422,99335.90
Total8,0872518,338100.008,0872518,338100.00
Majority2,1851672,35228.202,1851672,35228.20
Turnout45.49%45.49%
CitiesYes27,0453,09130,13657.871126,4473,01529,46258.1915987667446.42
No21,21972421,94342.1320,49567021,16541.817245477853.58
Total48,2643,81552,079100.0046,9423,68550,627100.001,3221301,452100.00
Majority5,8262,3678,19315.745,9522,3458,29716.38126(22)1047.16
Turnout50.96%51.15%45.39%
Separated townsYes2,4023662,76860.2862,2013402,54162.7122012622742.04
No1,746781,82439.721,437741,51137.29309431357.96
Total4,1484444,592100.003,6384144,052100.0051030540100.00
Majority65628894420.567642661,03025.42108(22)8615.92
Turnout51.84%51.56%54.04%

Only three counties, one city and two separated towns voted No:

1894 Ontario plebiscite - analysis of total results [7]
ChoiceGroup of municipalitiesMaleFemaleTotal%
YesCounties145,5048,736154,240 
Districts5,1362095,345
Cities27,0453,09130,136
Separated towns2,4023662,768
Total180,08712,402192,48963.48
NoCounties82,5781,38283,960 
Districts2,951422,993
Cities21,21972421,943
Separated towns1,746781,824
Total108,4942,226110,72036.52
Total votes288,58114,628303,209100.00
Majority71,59310,17681,76926.96
Turnout57.26%

See also

References

  1. The Prohibition Plebiscite Act , S.O. 1893, c. 41, Sch. A
  2. 1 2 Johnston & Sage 2007, p. 2.
  3. 1891 Act, s. 4
  4. 1891 Act, s. 27
  5. Johnston & Sage 2007, p. 3.
  6. Johnston & Sage 2007, p. 4.
  7. 1 2 "To an Order of the Legislative Assembly, dated the 27th February, 1894, for a Return from the Records of the Votes cast 'Yes' and 'No' on the question of Prohibition on the 1st January last..." Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 1894.

Bibliography