Canadian conscription plebiscite, 1942
Canadian conscription plebiscite, 1942 |
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Are you in favour of releasing the Government from any obligations arising out of any past commitments restricting the methods of raising men for military service? |
Location |
All 9 provinces, and 1 of the 2 territories of Canada |
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Date |
April 27, 1942 (1942-04-27) |
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Results
|
Votes |
% |
Yes |
2,945,514 |
7001656200000000000♠65.62% |
No |
1,543,006 |
7001343800000000000♠34.38% |
Valid votes |
4,488,520 |
7001967600000000000♠96.76% |
Invalid or blank votes |
150,327 |
7000324000000000000♠3.24% |
Total votes |
4,638,847 |
100.00% |
Registered voters/turnout |
6,502,234 |
7001713400000000000♠71.34% |
|
Results by Results by jurisdiction |
|
Yes — No |
|
A plebiscite on conscription was held in Canada on 27 April 1942.[1] It was held in response to the Conservative Party lobbying Mackenzie King to introduce compulsory overseas military service, the government having previously promised not to introduce same in 1940.[2] The result was 66% voting in favour,[2] with Quebec being the only province to have a majority voting against. Quebec's strong majority against the commitment's release prompted Mackenzie King not to pursue the issue until later events prompted a change in position.
Results
Are you in favour of releasing the Government from any obligations arising out of any past commitments restricting the methods of raising men for military service?
Choice |
Votes |
% |
For | 2,945,514 | 65.63 |
Against | 1,543,006 | 34.37 |
Invalid/blank votes | 50,327 | – |
Total | 4,638,847 | 100 |
Registered voters/turnout | 6,502,234 | 71.34 |
Source: Nohlen |
By province
Canadian conscription plebiscite, 1942 |
Jurisdiction |
Yes |
No |
Votes | % | Votes | % |
Alberta | 186,624 | 71.1 | 75,880 | 28.9 |
British Columbia | 253,844 | 80.4 | 62,033 | 19.6 |
Manitoba | 218,093 | 80.3 | 53,651 | 19.7 |
New Brunswick | 105,629 | 69.8 | 45,743 | 30.2 |
Nova Scotia | 120,763 | 77.1 | 35,840 | 22.1 |
Ontario | 1,202,953 | 84.0 | 229,847 | 16.0 |
Prince Edward Island | 23,568 | 82.9 | 4,869 | 17.1 |
Quebec | 375,650 | 27.9 | 971,925 | 72.1 |
Saskatchewan | 183,617 | 73.1 | 67,654 | 26.9 |
Yukon | 847 | 74.4 | 291 | 25.6 |
Total civilian vote | 2,670,088 | 63.3 | 1,547,724 | 36.7 |
Military vote | 251,118 | 80.5 | 60,885 | 19.5 |
Canada | 2,921,206 | 64.5 | 1,608,609 | 35.5 |
The referendum was held in all 245 electoral districts, which covered all nine provinces and one of the two territories. Residents in the Northwest Territories did not have a vote, as their area was not organized as an electoral district.
References
- ↑ Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p127 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
- 1 2 Nohlen, p130