Bold claim: Daylight saving time is a tangled, long-running public policy clash that touches our sleep, safety, and daily rhythms more than most people realize. And this is the part most people miss: one province taking action can trigger a chain reaction, but real change hinges on coordinated steps across multiple regions. Here’s a clearer, beginner-friendly rewrite of the original piece, expanded with context and practical explanations.
Why most Canadians will keep daylight saving time changes as B.C. stops
As clocks move forward by one hour for daylight saving time this Sunday, British Columbia will be making the last such change ever. In contrast, other provinces are still planning to adjust their clocks twice a year.
This situation highlights a classic collective action problem. A political scientist from McMaster University, Peter Graefe, explains it this way: there’s no incentive for any single jurisdiction to move first, because the benefits depend on others following suit. If one province shifts to a permanent time, it may encourage neighbors to do the same, but if no one starts, nothing changes.
British Columbia’s premier, David Eby, announced a bold move: the province will stick with daylight saving time year-round, permanently. That means there will be no more seasonal clock changes in British Columbia.
Eby argued that twice-yearly clock changes create a cascade of problems. The practical examples he gave include children waking up at the same time even after clocks move, dogs waking up at the same time, and parents—and even adults without kids—losing sleep. This disruption, he says, translates into more car accidents and a general sense of not feeling well. The overall impact, according to him, is an unnecessary burden on people’s lives in British Columbia.
BC has long sought to end daylight saving time. Former premier John Horgan tried several times, but the effort did not succeed. In 2019, BC passed legislation to establish a Pacific Time zone with year-round time, a move backed by a resounding public vote: about 93 percent of respondents supported permanent daylight saving time.
Ontario, meanwhile, passed a bill in November 2020 to end time changes and keep the province on daylight time permanently. That bill depended on Quebec and New York State enacting similar measures.
By March 2022, Ontario’s premier Doug Ford said Ontario would eventually abandon bi-annual clock changes and align with the broader North American practice of permanent daylight time.
Alberta’s public opinion was similarly split. In October 2021, a narrow majority—50.2 percent—voted to keep daylight saving time, a razor-thin margin that reflected a tight race. Since then, Alberta’s government led by Danielle Smith has signaled a re-examination of the issue, citing concerns about airline schedules, professional sports, and the risk of becoming an outlier if neighboring regions maintain a different time system.
Calgary’s mayor Jyoti Gondek cautioned against reviving the debate, noting that voters already settled the question and urging governments to prioritize other issues.
Global News contacted the other provinces, and responses suggest that for now, no immediate changes are planned. Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia indicated ongoing plans to adjust how they observe daylight saving time. Ontario and Nova Scotia both mentioned that regional alignment would be necessary, pointing to Ontario’s 2020 legislation as a reference. Quebec signaled no imminent changes but noted it recognizes the desire to end the clock changes and is consulting with experts. Alberta’s Finance Minister Nate Horner said the province may revisit the issue after reviewing all the facts and the rationale behind the 2021 vote. Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Prince Edward Island, did not provide responses by publication.
The sleep science is nuanced. Rebecca Robillard, co-chair of the Canadian Sleep Research Consortium, emphasizes that the switch is more than just one hour of lost or gained sleep. The shift disrupts the alignment between our internal biological clock and the sun’s cycle, which regulates many body and brain functions. She explains that changing the clock can influence hormone release, insulin regulation, metabolism, temperature, mood, sleepiness, and even longer-term health risks such as stroke, heart issues, and immune function problems. These effects can extend to mood swings, concentration difficulties, memory problems, and pregnancy considerations.
On the other side, some researchers note potential downsides to permanent daylight saving time. Patricia Lakin-Thomas, a biology professor at York University, points out that while the idea of more daylight in the evenings is appealing, winter can become harsher and darker, and the body relies on morning light to reset our circadian clocks for the day ahead. Dr. Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, a neurology professor at the University of Pittsburgh, supports keeping standard time year-round as medically preferable, arguing that consistent alignment with the sun improves health and safety outcomes.
In summary, the move toward permanent daylight saving time in British Columbia marks a significant policy shift with broad implications for sleep, health, and daily life. Other provinces are watching closely, weighing the potential benefits of more evening daylight against the risks of persistent schedule misalignment and the practical needs of travel, sports, and federal coordination. The debate remains lively: do you support a region-by-region transition, or should Canada adopt a single, nationwide time standard? What should guide your view—the allure of longer evenings, the health and safety research, or the economic and logistical realities of keeping time consistent with neighboring jurisdictions? Share your stance in the comments.”}
