1894 Ontario prohibition plebiscite

September 2023 Are you in favour of the immediate prohibition by law, of the importation, manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage. Canada 1868 January 1, 1894 192,489 110,720 303,209 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. Plebiscite question An Act of the Legislature specified the form of the question posed:The Prohibition Plebiscite Act S.O. 1893 41 A https://archive.org/details/statutesofprovin1893onta/page/162/mode/2up Are you in favour of the immediate prohibition by law, of the importation, manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage.Johnston Sage 2007 2 Voting only occurred within the various constituted municipalities.1891 Act, s. 4 Anyone who lived in unorganized areas of the Province was unable to participate.1891 Act, s. 27 Results Response# of votes polled% of votes polledJohnston Sage 2007 3 Yes192,48963.5No110,72036.5Total303,209100.0 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.Johnston Sage 2007 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.Johnston Sage 2007 4 Analysis + 1894 Ontario plebiscite - analysis of results by municipality https://archive.org/details/n09ontariosession26ontauoft/page/n659/mode/2up 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... 1894 Legislative Assembly of OntarioTypeChoiceAll municipalitiesYesNoMale Female Total % Municipalities Male Female Total % MunicipalitiesMale Female Total %CountiesYes145,504 8,736 154,240 64.75 35 137,838 8,182 146,020 66.60 3 7,666 554 8,220 43.39No82,578 1,382 83,960 35.25 72,049 1,187 73,236 33.40 10,529 195 10,724 56.61Total228,082 10,118 238,200 100.00 209,887 9,369 219,256 100.00 18,195 749 18,944 100.00Majority62,926 7,354 70,280 29.50 65,789 6,995 72,784 33.20 2,863 (359) 2,504 13.22Turnout 59.55%59.62%58.76%DistrictsYes5,136 209 5,345 64.10 7 5,136 209 5,345 64.10 NilNo2,951 42 2,993 35.90 2,951 42 2,993 35.90Total8,087 251 8,338 100.00 8,087 251 8,338 100.00Majority2,185 167 2,352 28.20 2,185 167 2,352 28.20Turnout 45.49%45.49%CitiesYes27,045 3,091 30,136 57.87 11 26,447 3,015 29,462 58.19 1 598 76 674 46.42No21,219 724 21,943 42.13 20,495 670 21,165 41.81 724 54 778 53.58Total48,264 3,815 52,079 100.00 46,942 3,685 50,627 100.00 1,322 130 1,452 100.00Majority5,826 2,367 8,193 15.74 5,952 2,345 8,297 16.38 126 (22) 104 7.16Turnout 50.96%51.15%45.39%Separated townsYes2,402 366 2,768 60.28 6 2,201 340 2,541 62.71 2 201 26 227 42.04No1,746 78 1,824 39.72 1,437 74 1,511 37.29 309 4 313 57.96Total4,148 444 4,592 100.00 3,638 414 4,052 100.00 510 30 540 100.00Majority656 288 944 20.56 764 266 1,030 25.42 108 (22) 86 15.92Turnout 51.84%51.56%54.04% Only three counties, one city and two separated towns voted No: Counties Essex Prescott and Russell Waterloo City Windsor Separated towns Prescott Pelee Island + 1894 Ontario plebiscite - analysis of total resultsChoiceGroup of municipalitiesMale Female Total % YesCounties145,504 8,736 154,240  Districts5,136 209 5,345Cities27,045 3,091 30,136Separated towns2,402 366 2,768Total180,087 12,402 192,489 63.48NoCounties82,578 1,382 83,960  Districts2,951 42 2,993Cities21,219 724 21,943Separated towns1,746 78 1,824Total108,494 2,226 110,720 36.52Total votes288,581 14,628 303,209 100.00Majority71,593 10,176 81,769 26.96Turnout 57.26% See also Prohibition in Canada Canada Temperance Act 1902 Ontario prohibition referendum 1919 Ontario prohibition referendum 1921 Ontario prohibition referendum 1924 Ontario prohibition referendum References Bibliography Johnston Larry Sage Rick Referendums in Ontario: An Historical Summary 2007 http://www.yourbigdecision.ca/assets/pdf/historicalsummary.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20070920080600/http://www.yourbigdecision.ca/assets/pdf/historicalsummary.pdf September 20, 2007 Legislative Assembly of Ontario Category:1894 in Ontario Category:1894 referendums Category:Ontario prohibition referendums Category:1894 elections in Canada Category:January 1894 in Canada