Editing Referendums in Canada (section)

==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.

===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.

===NWT===
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  [[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 turn out (below 40%) in the plebiscite, the government refused to implement the reform.
Another PEI plebiscite on electoral reform is scheduled for 2019.

===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 having referendum on getting more immigration powers from federal government.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/trudeau-maintains-position-on-immigration-in-face-of-legault-s-demands-1.6097103 | 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 calls on Quebec might hold a referendum on immigration powers if Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] does not give the province more immigration powers.<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://montreal.ctvnews.ca/quebec-premier-threatens-referendum-on-immigration-if-trudeau-fails-to-deliver-1.6840162 |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>