Why Did Canada Have Prohibition

Prohibition in Canada was the culmination of multiple movements, and multiple things happening in the time period of WWI.  The fight against alcohol, or the Temperance Movement, began as early as the 1860’s. Many of those advocating for the temperance movement were religious groups and women, though not in all of Canada’s provinces.  Another movement taking place before and during WWI was the Women’s Suffrage Movement.  As women sought more social and political equality, one obvious hurdle was the right of suffrage, or the right to vote.  These two movements in the late 19^th century and early 20^th century came to fruition in Canada during WWI.  Many women (and men, but mostly women) in Canada had been pressing the government to prohibit the sale, manufacturing and exportation of liquor in Canada through social and religious groups, but could not vote federally or provincially, making it very difficult to pass legislation.  But due to the women’s suffrage movement, many women gained the right to vote provincially in 1916 and 1917 (this included Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, BC and Ontario; women in the Maritimes provinces and Yukon could vote provincially by 1925, and women in Quebec could vote provincially in 1940), and federally by 1918.  The fact that prohibition was passed in most of these provinces after women gained the right of suffrage is attributed to the suffrage and temperance movements of this time.

Another reason for prohibition occurring was the rationing of food that took place in Canada during the First World War.  At this time, Canadian farmers had to produce a lot of food to send over to those participating in WWI, and not only Canadians but all those fighting in the alliance, as many of their countries could no longer farm due to the damage done on their land.  As a result of this, food, including grain and fruits required in liquor, was to be rationed, leading to some governments prohibiting liquor so as to ration grain and fruits for the war effort.


The final reason for prohibition being enacted was an obvious one, to improve civil and military efficiency by not allowing any one to get drunk.  For people still working in Canada in industries that were important to the war effort, such as the munitions industry or the farming industry, efficiency was very important, the effects of alcohol were definitely a hindrance to this efficiency.  This efficiency in turn would provide for a more efficient and powerful military.