View source for Referendums in Canada

{{Short description|none}}
{{Direct Democracy}}
{{Politics of Canada}}
Referendums have been held in Canada at the federal, provincial and city levels. 

'''National referendums''' are seldom used in '''Canada'''. The first two [[referendum]]s in [[1898 Canadian prohibition plebiscite|1898]] and [[1942 Canadian conscription plebiscite|1942]] saw a large number of voters in [[Quebec]] and in the remainder of [[Canada]] take dramatically-opposing stands, and the third in 1992 saw most of the voters take a stand opposed to that of the party in power.

==National referendums==

===Plebiscite on prohibition===
{{main|1898 Canadian prohibition plebiscite}}
{{see also|Prohibition in Canada|Prohibition}}
The question:
:''Are you in favor of the passing of an Act prohibiting the importation, manufacture or sale of spirits, wine, ale, beer, cider and all other alcoholic liquors for use as beverages?''<ref>{{cite archive
  |item=An Act Respecting the Prohibition of the Importation, Manufacture and Sale of Intoxicating Liquors
  |page=599
  |collection=Senate and House of Commons Bills, 8th Parliament, 3rd Session
  |collection-url=https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.bills_SOCHOC_0803_1/599
  |institution=Library of Parliament
  |ref = lop}}</ref><br /><small>[[French language|French]]: ''Êtes-vous favorable à la passation d'une loi défendant l'importation, la fabrication ou la vente de spiritueux, vins, bière, ale, cidre et de toutes autres liqueurs alcooliques comme breuvages ?''</small>
{{election table}} 
! colspan="5" |Canadian plebiscite on [[prohibition]]<br>September 29, 1898
|-
! rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"  |Jurisdiction
! colspan="2" |[[File:Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svg|14px]] Yes
! colspan="2" |No
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
! Votes !! % !! Votes !! % 
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[British Columbia]]|| '''5,731'''|| style="background:rgb(69, 115, 159); width:30px;" |<span style="color:white;">54.6</span>|| 4,756 || 45.4 
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Manitoba]]|| '''12,419'''|| style="background:rgb(69, 115, 159); width:30px;" |<span style="color:white;">80.7</span>|| 2,978 ||19.3
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[New Brunswick]]|| '''26,919'''|| style="background:rgb(69, 115, 159); width:30px;" |<span style="color:white;">73.8</span>|| 9,575 ||26.2
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Northwest Territories]] || '''6,238'''|| style="background:rgb(69, 115, 159); width:30px;" |<span style="color:white;">68.8</span>|| 2,824 || 31.2 
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Nova Scotia]]||'''34,678'''|| style="background:rgb(69, 115, 159); width:30px;" |<span style="color:white;">86.6</span>|| 5,370 ||13.4
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Ontario]]|| '''154,498'''|| style="background:rgb(69, 115, 159); width:30px;" |<span style="color:white;">57.3</span>|| 115,284 || 42.7 
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Prince Edward Island]]|| '''9,461'''|| style="background:rgb(69, 115, 159); width:30px;" |<span style="color:white;">89.2</span>|| 1,146 || 10.8 
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Quebec]] ||28,582||18.9||'''122,614'''|| style="background:rgb(140, 140, 83); width:30px;" |<span style="color:white;">81.1</span>
|- align="center"
! align="left" | {{left|[[Canada]]}} !!278,526!!style="background:rgb(69, 115, 159); width:30px;" |<span style="color:white;">51.3</span>!!264,547!!48.7
|}

The government did not adopt Prohibition, saying the overall majority in favour of Prohibition was slight and turn-out low.

===Plebiscite on conscription===
{{main|1942 Canadian conscription plebiscite}}
{{see also|Conscription Crisis of 1944}}
The Question:
:''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?''<br /><small>[[French language|French]]: ''Consentez-vous à libérer le gouvernement de toute obligation résultant d'engagements antérieurs restreignant les méthodes de mobilisation pour le service militaire ?''</small>
{{#section-h:1942 Canadian conscription plebiscite|By province}}
Based on the result, the government adopted conscription but with a light touch, initially adopting the policy that those conscripted would not be sent overseas to active fighting. These inactive conscripts were nicknamed "zombies".

===Referendum on the Charlottetown Accord===
{{main|Charlottetown Accord#The referendum}}
The Question:
:''Do you agree that the Constitution of Canada should be renewed on the basis of the agreement reached on August 28, 1992?''<br /><small>[[French language|French]]: ''Acceptez-vous que la Constitution du Canada soit renouvelée sur la base de l'entente conclue le 28 août 1992 ?''</small>
{{election table}}
! colspan="5" |National Referendum on the [[Charlottetown Accord]]<br>(October 26, 1992)
|-
! rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;" |Jurisdiction
! colspan="2" |Yes
! colspan="2" |No
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
! Votes !! % !! Votes !! % 
|- align="right"
| align="left" | [[Alberta]]|| 483,275 || 39.8 || '''731,975'''|| 60.2 
|- align="right"
| align="left" | [[British Columbia]]|| 525,188 || 31.8 || '''1,126,761'''|||68.2
|- align="right"
| align="left" | [[Manitoba]]|| 198,230 || 38.0 || '''322,971'''|| 62.0 
|- align="right"
| align="left" | [[New Brunswick]]|| '''230,010'''|| 61.7 || 145,096 || 38.3 
|- align="right"
| align="left" | [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]]|| '''133,193'''|| 63.1 || 77,881 || 36.9 
|- align="right"
| align="left" | [[Northwest Territories]]|| '''14,750'''|| 61.0 || 9,416 || 39.0 
|- align="right"
| align="left" | [[Nova Scotia]]|| 218,618 || 48.7 || '''230,182'''|| 51.3 
|- align="right"
| align="left" | [[Ontario]]|| '''2,410,119'''|| 50.1 || 2,397,665 || 49.9 
|- align="right"
| align="left" | [[Prince Edward Island]]|| '''48,687'''|| 74.0 || 17,124 || 26.0 
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Quebec]]|| 1,710,117 || 43.4 || '''2,232,280'''|| 56.6 
|- align="right"
| align="left" | [[Saskatchewan]]|| 203,361 || 44.6 || '''252,459'''|| 55.4 
|- align="right"
| align="left" | [[Yukon]]|| 5,354 || 43.6 || '''6,922'''|| 56.4 
|- align="right"
! align="left" | {{left|[[Canada]]}} !! 6,185,902 !! 45.0 !! 7,550,732 !! 55.0 
|}

===Proposed referendums===
During the [[2004 Canadian federal election|2004 federal election]], the [[New Democratic Party (Canada)|NDP]] stated that it would require the federal government to hold a national referendum on [[electoral reform]] (specifically [[proportional representation]]) for support from the NDP should the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberals]] win a [[minority government]]. The Liberals won a minority, and the NDP announced they would press for electoral reform through a referendum. The possibility of a national referendum on electoral reform was made more likely through the [[Throne speech]] that opened Parliament in October 2004, in which former Liberal [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Paul Martin]] included electoral reform in his plan for the next Parliament. However, no action was taken.

Conservative Leader [[Stephen Harper]] became Prime Minister as a result of the [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 federal election]], ending the Liberals' opportunity to move on their promise.

Liberal Leader [[Justin Trudeau]] campaigned on a platform of electoral reform in the [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015 federal election]], promising to eliminate the current "first-past-the-post" single-member plurality voting system. While Trudeau had said that he liked a system where the distribution of seats was more in line with the popular vote on a Canada-wide basis, he had acquired a preference for [[Instant-runoff voting]], which he called preferential voting as it uses ranked ballots. [[29th Canadian Ministry|His government]] announced in December 2015 that an all-party parliamentary committee would be formed in early 2016 to consider a variety of alternative election systems, including [[proportional representation]]. During a discussion of the plan, [[Minister of Democratic Institutions|Democratic Institutions Minister]] [[Maryam Monsef]] referred to it as "an open and robust process of consultation". However, she refused to commit to the Conservative Party's demand for a public referendum that would allow Canadians to vote on their preferred electoral system, indicating that she did not want to "prejudice the outcome of that consultation process". In the end the parliamentary committee did not settle on one alternative system, and PM Trudeau did not move to reform the election system.

There had been discussion regarding a national referendum over the issue of [[same-sex marriage in Canada|same-sex marriage]], which was a divisive issue in Canada. A national plebiscite had been suggested by [[Alberta]] [[Premier of Alberta|Premier]] [[Ralph Klein]] and some [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservatives]] and [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] [[backbencher]]s. However, Paul Martin's Liberal government, with the support of the NDP and Bloc Québécois, passed the ''[[Civil Marriage Act]]'', legalizing same-sex marriage through Parliament in [[Members of the 38th Canadian Parliament and same-sex marriage#Votes|July 2005]] without holding a plebiscite.  In December 2006, [[Stephen Harper]]'s government introduced a [[Members of the 39th Canadian Parliament and same-sex marriage#Votes|motion to re-open the marriage debate]], which lost.  Notably, members of all parties, including some Conservative cabinet members, voted it down.

As well, in 1920 six provinces held [[1920 Canadian liquor plebiscite|referendums on federal restrictions on the inter-provincial trade in liquor]].

==Provincial and Territorial referendums==
For a list of Wikipedia articles on provincial referendums, see [[:Category:Referendums in Canada by province or territory]]. 

===Alberta===
[[Alberta]] has held several referendums during its history.

Three concerned Prohibition (ban on the sale of liquor). The referendums resulted in the adoption, retention and replacement of Prohibition -- [[1915 Alberta liquor plebiscite|1915]], [[1920 Canadian liquor plebiscite|1920]] and [[1923 Alberta prohibition plebiscite|1923]], respectively.

Another referendum held in [[1948 Alberta general election|1948]] was on whether or not the provincial government should take control of the province's electrical generation and distribution system, at the time a mixed system of municipal and private corporate ownership, and the preferred method of rural electrification - private corporations or provincial government.

That province also saw referendums on daylight savings in [[1967 Alberta daylight saving time plebiscite|1967]] and [[1971 Alberta daylight saving time plebiscite|1971]].

In 2021, Alberta conducted a [[2021 Alberta referendum|two-part referendum]] on whether equalization payments should be eliminated from Canada's constitution and whether Alberta should observe daylight saving time year-round.

===British Columbia===

In [[British Columbia]] has held several referendums. A few of them are listed here.

BC held a [[1920 Canadian liquor plebiscite|plebiscite on inter-provincial trade in liquor in 1920]].

In BC, a [[British Columbia Treaty Referendum|Treaty Referendum]] was held on [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] treaty rights in 2002. The referendum proposed eight questions that voters were asked to either support or oppose. Critics claimed the phrasing was flawed or biased toward a predetermined response. Critics, especially First Nations and religious groups, called for a boycott of the referendum, and only about one third of ballots were returned, significantly less than the usual turnout in provincial general elections. The ballots that were returned showed enthusiastic support, with over 80 per cent of participating voters agreeing to all eight proposed principles.

A [[2005 British Columbia electoral reform referendum|referendum on electoral reform]] on May 17, 2005, was held in conjunction with the [[2005 British Columbia general election|provincial election]] that year. British Columbian voters were asked to approve a new electoral system based on the [[Single Transferable Vote]] called [[BC STV]]. It passed with the support of a majority of voters (57%), but failed to meet the required "supermajority" threshold of 60%. Premier [[Gordon Campbell (Canadian politician)|Gordon Campbell]] announced due to the large support shown for electoral reform a [[2009 British Columbia electoral reform referendum|second referendum]] would be held in correspondence with the [[2009 British Columbia general election]]. This referendum would also have required approval by 60% of those voting.

The second referendum was held on May 12, 2009, in conjunction with the provincial election. The results were a "supermajority" of 60.92% voting for retaining the current "first past the post" electoral system and 39.8% voting for the proposed Single Transferable Vote.

A [[2011 British Columbia sales tax referendum|mail-in referendum]] was held from June 13 to August 5, 2011, on the fate of the province's harmonized sales tax. The government pledged to discontinue the tax if more than 50% of the voters opt to have the tax discontinued. It was passed, with 55% in favour.

The province held [[2018 British Columbia electoral reform referendum|another referendum on proportional representation]] in late 2018. With 42% turnout, proportional representation was defeated by 61% of the vote.

===Manitoba===
Manitoba held a referendum on Prohibition in 1892. A majority voted in favour.<ref>"Manitoba prohibition referendum (1892)" https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/events/prohibition1892.shtml</ref>

Manitoba held a referendum on Prohibition in 1902. A majority voted against prohibition.<ref>Edmonton Bulletin, April 14, 1902</ref><ref>"Temperance Referendum Act 1902 https://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/1902/190206450631_p.%20631.pdf accessed May 8, 2025</ref>

Prohibition referendums were also held in 1916. Manitoba held a [[1920 Canadian liquor plebiscite|plebiscite on inter-provincial trade in liquor in 1920]]. In a 1923 referendum, a majority voted to drop prohibition.<ref>Events in Manitoba History: Manitoba Prohibition Referendum (1916) https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/events/prohibition1916.shtml</ref><ref>Events in Manitoba History: Manitoba Temperance Act Amendment Referendum (1923) https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/events/prohibition1923.shtml</ref>

Around 2019 the Manitoba legislative assembly debated Bill 8, The Referendum Act.<ref>"The Referendum Act" https://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/41-4/b008e.php</ref>

===Newfoundland and Labrador===
{{main|1948 Newfoundland referendums}}
The island of [[Newfoundland (island)|Newfoundland]], then a British colony, held [[1948 Newfoundland referendums|two referendums in 1948]] to determine its future. An initial referendum was held on June 3, 1948, to decide between continuing with the British appointed [[Commission of Government]] that had ruled the island since the 1930s, revert to [[British Dominions|dominion]] status with [[responsible government]], or join [[Canadian Confederation]]. The result was inconclusive, with 44.6% supporting the restoration of dominion status, 41.1% for confederation with Canada, and 14.3% for continuing the Commission of Government. A second referendum on July 22, 1948, which asked Newfoundlanders to choose between confederation and dominion status, was decided by a vote of 52% to 48% for confederation with Canada. Newfoundland joined Canada on March 31, 1949.

A referendum was held in [[Newfoundland and Labrador]] in 1995 that approved replacing the province's system of [[parochial school]]s with a largely public school system. In 1997, a second referendum to amend the Terms of Union to allow for the Catholic and Pentecostal school systems to be disbanded and brought into the public system.

In the lead up to and following his victory in the [[2025 Newfoundland and Labrador general election]], [[Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador]] leader and Premier-designate [[Tony Wakeham]] promised that, following a review of a recent deal struck with [[Hydro-Québec]] by the outgoing [[Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador|Liberal]] government of [[John Hogan (Newfoundland and Labrador politician)|John Hogan]], a referendum would be held on the deal.<ref>{{cite web | title=Future of Quebec energy deal unknown after Newfoundland and Labrador election | website=[[Toronto Star]] | url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/newfoundland-and-labrador/future-of-quebec-energy-deal-unknown-after-newfoundland-and-labrador-election/article_0a0dc45e-d86b-5886-a18f-6b106f50df5b.html }}</ref>

===New Brunswick===
New Brunswick held a [[1920 Canadian liquor plebiscite|plebiscite on inter-provincial trade in liquor in 1920]].

On May 14, 2001, [[New Brunswick]] [[2001 New Brunswick video lottery terminal referendum|held a referendum]] on whether to continue to permit Video Lottery Terminals to operate in the province. 53.1% of those who voted voted in favour of retaining the terminals.

===Northwest Territories===
Two referendums were held in [[Northwest Territories]].

* [[1982 Northwest Territories division plebiscite|1982]] division of territory into two regions
* [[1992 Nunavut creation referendum|1992]] boundary between the two regions, creating Territory of [[Nunavut]] in 1999.

===Nova Scotia===
Nova Scotia held a [[1920 Canadian liquor plebiscite|plebiscite on inter-provincial trade in liquor in 1920]]. In another referendum, Nova Scotia voted against prohibition on October 31, 1929.<ref>"Prohibition era and rum-running"  https://fairviewhistoricalsociety.ca/the-prohibition-era-and-rum-running/</ref>

In 2004, [[Nova Scotia]] held a [[2004 Nova Scotia Sunday shopping plebiscite|plebiscite]] on whether to allow '[[Sunday shopping]]'. The result was a slight victory for the No side although the government went ahead and legalized Sunday Shopping the following year after a court decision overturned the law.

===Ontario===
On October 10, 2007, Ontario held a [[2007 Ontario electoral reform referendum|referendum]] on whether or not to adopt a [[Mixed-member proportional representation|mixed-member proportional]] election system. The proposed change failed, with 63% voting for the status quo [[first-past-the-post voting]]. This was the first referendum in that province since 1924 when a [[1924 Ontario prohibition referendum|referendum on prohibition]] was held.

===Prince Edward Island===
The small province of Prince Edward Island (under 150,000 people and therefore in scale more like a [[municipal government]]) has had several referendums in its past, although the term used in the province is a plebiscite. 

On January 18, 1988, a provincial plebiscite was held to determine if Islanders were in favour of a fixed link to the mainland. It passed 60% to 40%. This allowed the provincial and federal governments to attract contractors to build what is now the [[Confederation Bridge]]. 

On November 28, 2005, Islanders were asked to vote by plebiscite whether or not they wanted [[mixed-member proportional representation]] - partly district contest-based; partly "[[party list]]-based" - [[electoral system]]. [[2005 Prince Edward Island electoral reform referendum|Islanders decided, 64% to 36%]], to keep the status quo [[first-past-the-post]] system. A second [[2016 Prince Edward Island electoral reform referendum|plebiscite was held in 2016]] concerning mixed-member proportional representation, with the result of 52% of Islanders voting to make the change. Citing low voter turnout (below 40%) in the plebiscite, the government refused to implement the reform. A [[2019 Prince Edward Island electoral reform referendum|third plebiscite in 2019]] saw a reversal: roughly 52% of voters ''rejected'' the proposed change to the electoral system. 

===Quebec===
At least three referendums have been held in [[Quebec]]:

* 1919 - April 10: [[1919 Quebec prohibition referendum|Referendum on the legalization of the sale of alcohol]]. The Yes side won.
* 1980 - May 20: [[1980 Quebec referendum|Referendum on the Sovereignty-Association proposal]]. The No side won.
* 1995 - October 30: [[1995 Quebec referendum|Referendum on Sovereignty with optional partnership offer]]. The No side narrowly won.

As well, the 1992 country-wide referendum on the [[Charlottetown Accord]] was organized by the DGEQ in Quebec, while Elections Canada organized it in the rest of Canada.

====Proposed referendums====
In 2021, the Quebec government cancelled a electoral reform referendum.<ref name="EndOfReform">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-electoral-reform-referendum-2022-1.6005897 |title=Quebec backtracks on promise, no referendum on electoral reform in 2022 |first=Jonathan |last=Montpetit |date=April 28, 2021 |work=CBC Montreal |access-date=April 28, 2021 |archive-date=April 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428204943/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-electoral-reform-referendum-2022-1.6005897 |url-status=live }}</ref> 

In 2022, the Quebec Premier [[François Legault]] raised the idea of holding a referendum on getting more immigration powers from federal government.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/trudeau-maintains-position-on-immigration-in-face-of-legaults-demands/ | title=Trudeau maintains position on immigration in face of Legault's demands | date=5 October 2022 | access-date=7 October 2022 | archive-date=7 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007062129/https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/trudeau-maintains-position-on-immigration-in-face-of-legault-s-demands-1.6097103 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebec-already-has-the-tools-in-hand-to-choose-immigrants-federal-minister | title=Quebec already has 'the tools in hand' to choose immigrants: Federal minister | access-date=2022-10-07 | archive-date=2022-10-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005161951/https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebec-already-has-the-tools-in-hand-to-choose-immigrants-federal-minister | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hilltimes.com/2022/10/04/keep-going-legaults-victory-message-suggests-hell-seek-more-liberty-and-more-leeway-with-ottawa-say-observers/386368 | title='Keep going': Legault's victory message suggests he'll seek 'more liberty' and 'more leeway' with Ottawa, say observers | date=4 October 2022 | access-date=7 October 2022 | archive-date=7 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007062132/https://www.hilltimes.com/2022/10/04/keep-going-legaults-victory-message-suggests-hell-seek-more-liberty-and-more-leeway-with-ottawa-say-observers/386368 | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2024, Quebec Premier [[François Legault]] repeated his threat that Quebec might hold a referendum on immigration powers if Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] does not give the province more control ovrr immigration.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Riga |first=Andy |date=9 April 2024 |title=Legault threatens immigration referendum if Trudeau doesn't relent |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/legault-threatens-immigration-referendum-if-trudeau-doesnt-relent-by-june-30 |work=The Gazette}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Laframboise |first=Kalina |date=9 April 2024 |title=Quebec premier threatens referendum on immigration powers, calls out Trudeau |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10412313/quebec-legault-trudeau-immigration-tensions/ |work=Global News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=9 April 2024 |title=Quebec premier threatens 'referendum' on immigration if Trudeau fails to deliver |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/quebec-premier-threatens-referendum-on-immigration-if-trudeau-fails-to-deliver/ |work=CTV News}}</ref>

===Saskatchewan===
Saskatchewan held a referendum on prohibition in 1915 in which a majority voted in favour. It also held a [[1920 Canadian liquor plebiscite|plebiscite on inter-provincial trade in liquor in 1920]]. It conducted a referendum on prohibition on July 16, 1923. This time a majority voted to replace prohibition with government-run liquor stores.<ref>"Prohibition ended in 1924" https://www.sasktoday.ca/north/in-the-community/prohibition-era-ended-in-1924-4032310 accessed May 8, 2025</ref>

=== Yukon ===
These referendums were held in [[Yukon]].
* 1916 August Prohibition. Wets won by three votes.<ref>Edmonton Bulletin, Sept. 8, 1916</ref>
* 1920 February Prohibition. Prohibitionists narrowly had more votes than those who wanted bars continued and also narrowly more votes than those who wanted government liquor stores.<ref>Edmonton Bulletin, March 1, 1920</ref>
* 1921 July Prohibition. Wets won. public drinking eventually coming in in 1925.<ref>"When booze ran dry in the Klondike" https://www.uphere.ca/articles/when-booze-ran-dry-klondike#:~:text=It%20was%20one%20of%20the,shortest%2Dever%20dalliances%20with%20temperance.</ref>
* 2025 October electoral reform.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Canada elections}}

[[Category:Referendums in Canada| ]]