Английская Википедия:1916 British Columbia referendum
Шаблон:Use mdy dates Шаблон:Infobox multichoice referendum
Two referendums were held in British Columbia on September 14, 1916, alongside general elections. In them, the voters approved Acts of the British Columbia Legislature that introduced prohibition and women's suffrage on the same basis as men.
Background
Шаблон:Multiple image The issues of prohibition and women's suffrage dominated much of the final session of the Legislative Assembly before the election. A Prohibition bill with a referendum clause was promised in the Speech from the Throne in March,Шаблон:Sfn which was supported by Liberal leader Harlan Brewster in a speech to a prohibition delegation in February.Шаблон:Sfn The bill received royal assent on May 31,[1] and was scheduled to come into force on July 1, 1917, upon approval by the voters.[2] In the campaign, the majority of the prohibitionist supporters were also Liberals.Шаблон:Sfn
A suffrage bill had been defeated earlier in the session,Шаблон:Sfn and Premier Bowser opted to take that issue to the voters as well.Шаблон:Sfn It was scheduled to become effective on January 1, 1917, upon approval in the referendum.[3] The move to submit the issues to the voters was seen as a tactic by Premier Bowser to sideline it from the election,Шаблон:Sfn but it was contested by many women as being unfair to have the decision made solely by male voters.Шаблон:Sfn
Implementing legislation was also enacted to provide for the operation of the referendums.[4] The extension of the franchise to soldiers stationed overseas for the election also applied for these votes.[5]
Results
Prohibition
The question posed was, "Are you in favour of bringing the British Columbia Prohibition Act in force?"Шаблон:Sfn
The votes from the overseas soldiers had initially caused the referendum to be defeated by 822 votes. A Prohibition convention held in March 1917 called for the measure to be passed anyway, despite the overseas vote.Шаблон:Sfn Incoming Premier Brewster promised to do so, should irregularities be proved to have occurred.Шаблон:Sfn
A commission of inquiry was appointed to investigate allegations of voting irregularities,[6] and it determined that all ballots cast after Election Day must be disregarded.Шаблон:Sfn The commissioners reported that "grave frauds and irregularities were committed, and that the regulations laid down for the taking of the vote were in many instances not observed."Шаблон:Sfn As a result, an Act was passed by the Legislature, providing that Prohibition would come into effect on October 1, 1917.[7]
| Choice | Votes on initial count | Votes disregarded later | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian | Soldiers (Canada) |
Soldiers (Overseas) |
Total | % | # | Net | Net % | |
| Yes | 36,490 | 3,353 | 2,893 | 42,736 | 49.52 | (832) | 41,904 | 53.72 |
| No | 27,217 | 3,622 | 12,719 | 43,558 | 50.47 | (7,456) | 36,102 | 46.28 |
| Total | 63,707 | 6,975 | 15,612 | 86,294 | 100.00 | (8,288) | 78,006 | 100.00 |
| Majority | 9,273 | (269) | (9,826) | (822) | (0.95) | 6,624 | 5,802 | 7.44 |
Woman Suffrage
The question posed was, "Are you in favour of the extension of the electoral franchise to women?"Шаблон:Sfn
Unlike the prohibition referendum, the votes from soldiers overseas were not disregarded.
The initial 1916 suffrage Act was repealed and replaced by a broader amendment to the Provincial Elections Act, effective April 5, 1917, which also allowed women to become MLAs, on same basis as men.[8]Шаблон:Sfn Even after extension of suffrage to women, some women were still barred from voting, on same basis as men. Hutterites and Mennonites of both genders were given the vote in 1948, and Treaty Indians and Japanese-Canadians of both genders were given the vote in 1949.Шаблон:Sfn
| Choice | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian | Soldiers (Canada) |
Soldiers (Overseas) |
Total | ||
| Yes | 43,160 | 3,976 | 8,498 | 55,634 | 65.86 |
| No | 19,962 | 2,314 | 6,561 | 28,837 | 34.14 |
| Total | 63,122 | 6,290 | 15,059 | 84,471 | 100.00 |
| Lead of Yes votes over No votes | 23,198 | 1,662 | 1,937 | 26,797 | 31.72 |
Further reading
Notes and references
Notes
References
Шаблон:British Columbia elections
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite canlaw
- ↑ S.B.C. 1916, c. 49, s. 62
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite canlaw
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite canlaw
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite canlaw
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite canlaw
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite canlaw
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite canlaw
