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Ontario, Canada referendum
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under the Ontario Temperance Act, though a clause required a referendum to be held in 1919 on whether the Act should be repealed and the previous licensing laws subsequently revived. A subsequent Act in 1919 provided three further questions for consideration, and subsequent implementation on approval. A majority voted against all four questions, and prohibition was maintained.
Referendum questions
Are you in favour of the repeal of the Ontario Temperance Act?
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?
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?
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
Referendum results
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As the majority voted no on all four questions, prohibition was not repealed.
Gallery
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 advertisement by the Citizens' Liberty League in its campaign to repeal Prohibition in Ontario
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 advertisement by the Citizens' Liberty League in its campaign to repeal Prohibition in Ontario
Elections and referendums in Ontario