Nationalization

When Canada’s experiment with prohibition came to an abrupt end, and the US’s experiment was just underway, Canada diverted its prohibition policy to that of a nationalization one.  Nationalization changed the provincial prohibitions on alcohol to public, provincially controlled systems.  For many it was evident that Canada should change their prohibition system since many of the reasons calling for it to be put in place had been changed.  Though the temperance movement was still there, many of its claims against alcohol, like the crime and poverty it created, were offset by the crime created by prohibition, with all the smuggling and illegal activities, and the loss of money from a none existent liquor industry, putting some out of jobs.  For reasons such as these, many saw the nationalization of liquor in Canada as a viable alternative to prohibition, as it still limits alcohol without banning it entirely.  Quebec and BC were the first to switch to a state control system, both doing so in 1921.The prairie provinces adopted this system in the mid-1920’s and Ontario and most of the Maritimes provinces would switch by 1930 (PEI would finally switch in 1948).  Like any other issue, there were groups supporting the nationalization of the liquor system and those against it.  The groups supporting the nationalization were the Anglicans, the Catholics, the working class and the alcohol industry.  Those against the switch of systems included the Roman Catholic Church, prohibitionists, women (generally), and liquor retailers.  Religion and religious affiliations were very significant in the switch from prohibition, as it is notable that the first two provinces to abolish prohibition in favor of the state control system were Quebec and BC, who at the time had the highest Roman Catholic and Anglican percentage population at the time (Quebec had a 86% Roman Catholic population and BC had a 31% Anglican population), which were two groups advocating for provincial control system.  The systems set up in many of the provinces during the 1920’s also inaugurated provincial Liquor boards, which still exist today.