Ontario prohibition referendum, 1902

An Ontario prohibition referendum was held on December 4, 1902, under the Liquor Act, on the legality of alcoholic beverages and the implementation of prohibition in the province. Though the referendum passed, a majority of half of the voters in the 1898 election did not support the motion and prohibition was not introduced. Prohibition would not occur in Ontario until 1916.

Referendum question

Are you in favour of bringing into force Part II of The Liquor Act, 1902?

The Queen's Privy Council for Canada had previously ruled in 1896 that provinces do not have the authority to prohibit the importation of alcohol. Part II of the Liquor Act would authorize prohibition to the extent that Ontario would be allowed to enact, specifically a ban on the sale of alcohol in bars and retail establishments and the placement of restrictions on the sale of alcohol in restaurants.

Results

Part II of the Liquor Act required (1) a majority of votes in the referendum and (2) more than half of the number of votes in the 1898 election to pass the legislation; the second requirement was not met. The turnout rate was estimated to be no more than 30 percent of the electorate, and prohibition was not adopted.

See also

• Canada Temperance Act 1878
• Ontario prohibition plebiscite, 1894
• Ontario prohibition referendum, 1919
• Ontario prohibition referendum, 1921
• Ontario prohibition referendum, 1924
• Prohibition in Canada

External links

• Referendums in Ontario: A Historical Summary

Elections and referendums in Ontario General elections 1867 1871 1875 1879 1883 1886 1890 1894 1898 1902 1905 1908 1911 1914 1919 1923 1926 1929 1934 1937 1943 1945 1948 1951 1955 1959 1963 1967 1971 1975 1977 1981 1985 1987 1990 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2014 next By-elections List of Ontario by-elections Referendums 1894 1902 1919 1921 1924 2007