Referenda in Canada
National referenda are seldom used in Canada, and have tended to be disasters. The first two saw voters in Québec and the rest of Canada take dramatically opposing stands, the third saw most of the voters take a stand dramatically opposed to that of the politicians in power.
Results of the National Referendum on Prohibition (September 29, 1898)
| Province |
For Prohibition |
Percent For |
Against Prohibition |
Percent Against |
| Ontario
| 154,498 | 57.3
| 115,284 | 42.7
|
| Quebec
| 28,436 | 18.8 | 122,760 | 81.2 |
| Nova Scotia | 34,368 | 87.2
| 5,370 | 12.8
|
| New Brunswick | 26,919 | 72.2
| 9,575 | 27.7
|
| P. E. I. | 9,461 | 89.2
| 1,146 | 10.8
|
| Manitoba | 12,419 | 80.6
| 2,978 | 19.4
|
| British Columbia | 5,731 | 54.6
| 4,756 | 45.4
|
| Saskatchewan and Alberta | 6,238 | 68.8
| 2,824 | 31.2
|
| All of Canada | 278,380 | 51.2
| 264,693 | 48.8
|
Results of the 1942 National Plebiscite on Conscription.
The Plebiscite 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?
The plebiscite was held on April 27, 1942 (see also: Conscription Crisis of 1944)
| Province | Voted Yes | Percent Yes | Voted No | Percent No |
| Prince Edward Island | 23,568 | 82.9 | 4,869 | 17.1 |
| Nova Scotia | 120,763 | 77.1 | 35,840 | 22.1 |
| New Brunswick | 105,629 | 69.8 | 45,743 | 30.2 |
| Quebec | 375,650 | 27.9 | 971,925 | 72.1 |
| Ontario | 1,202,953 | 84.0 | 229,847 | 16.0 |
| Manitoba | 218,093 | 80.3 | 53,651 | 19.7 |
| Saskatchewan | 183,617 | 73.1 | 67,654 | 26.9 |
| Alberta | 186,624 | 71.1 | 75,880 | 28.9 |
| British Columbia | 253,844 | 80.4 | 62,033 | 19.6 |
| 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 |
| Total | 2,921,206 | 64.5 | 1,608,609 | 35.5 |
National Referendum on the Charlottetown Accord (October 26, 1992)
| Province | Voted Yes | % of Yes Votes | Voted No | % of No Votes |
| Newfoundland | 133,193 | 63.1 | 77,881 | 36.9 |
| P.E.I. | 48,687 | 74.0 | 17,124 | 26.0 |
| Nova Scotia | 218,618 | 48.7 | 230,182 | 51.3 |
| New Brunswick | 234,010 | 61.7 | 145,096 | 38.3 |
| Quebec | 1,710,117 | 43.4 | 2,232,280 | 56.6 |
| Ontario | 2,410,119 | 50.1 | 2,397,665 | 49.9 |
| Manitoba | 198,230 | 38.0 | 322,971 | 62.0 |
| Saskatchewan | 203,361 | 44.6 | 252,459 | 55.4 |
| Alberta | 483,275 | 39.8 | 731,975 | 60.2 |
| British Columbia | 525,188 | 31.8 | 1,126,761 | 68.2 |
| Yukon | 5,354 | 43.6 | 6,922 | 56.4 |
| N. W. T. | 14,750 | 61.0 | 9,416 | 39.0 |
| Total Canada | 6,185,902 | 45.0 | 7,550,732 | 55.0 |
See also:
