Breaking Free from the Clock: Why Most Canadians Stick with Daylight Saving Time While B.C. Opts Out
This Sunday, as clocks across Canada spring forward for daylight saving time, British Columbia will be making this adjustment for the very last time. But here's where it gets controversial: while B.C. embraces a permanent shift to daylight saving time, most other provinces are sticking with the twice-yearly clock changes. Why the divide? And what does this mean for the rest of the country?
The decision to abandon daylight saving time isn’t as straightforward as it seems. As McMaster University political scientist Peter Graefe points out, it’s a classic case of a collective action problem. “There’s no incentive for any single place to move unilaterally,” he explains. “But maybe it takes one place to take the leap, show that the sky doesn’t fall, and inspire others to follow suit.”
British Columbia’s Premier David Eby announced earlier this week that the province will adopt permanent daylight saving time, eliminating seasonal clock changes. Eby highlighted the numerous issues caused by these shifts: disrupted sleep patterns for children, parents, and even pets, leading to increased car accidents, health issues, and overall stress. “These changes have a huge, unnecessary impact on the lives of British Columbians,” he said.
B.C.’s journey to this decision has been years in the making. Former Premier John Horgan repeatedly tried to end daylight saving time, but without success. In 2019, after the most popular public consultation in B.C.’s history—with 93% supporting permanent daylight saving time—the province passed legislation to create a Pacific Time zone with no seasonal changes.
And this is the part most people miss: Ontario also passed a bill in 2020 to end time changes, but with a catch. The bill’s implementation depended on Quebec and New York State adopting similar laws. Since neither has done so, Ontario remains stuck in the bi-annual time shuffle. In 2022, Premier Doug Ford acknowledged the issue, stating, “I think we’ll eventually stick with daylight saving time and just be like the rest of North America.”
Alberta’s stance is equally complex. In 2021, a narrow majority (50.2%) voted to keep daylight saving time, but the current government, led by Danielle Smith, is re-examining the issue. Concerns include potential disruptions to airline schedules, professional sports, and the risk of Alberta becoming an outlier if neighboring provinces maintain different time systems.
Not everyone is eager to reopen the debate. Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek argues that the issue was settled by voters and suggests governments focus on other priorities. Meanwhile, provinces like Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia have confirmed they have no immediate plans to change their daylight saving time practices, emphasizing the need for regional alignment.
But here’s the real question: Is sticking with daylight saving time the best choice for our health? Rebecca Robillard, co-chair of the Canadian Sleep Research Consortium, warns that time changes disrupt the alignment between our biological clock and the natural cycle of the sun. This misalignment affects not just sleep but also hormone release, insulin regulation, metabolism, and even immune function. “It’s a more complicated issue than people think,” she says, linking time changes to increased sleepiness, mood swings, memory problems, and even higher rates of stroke and heart attacks.
However, Patricia Lakin-Thomas, a biology professor at York University, points out the downsides of permanent daylight saving time. While people enjoy the extra evening light in summer, winter mornings become darker, delaying the exposure to morning light crucial for resetting our circadian clocks. “We need morning light to speed up our internal clocks and keep them in sync with the 24-hour cycle,” she explains.
Dr. Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, a neurology professor at the University of Pittsburgh, argues that sticking with standard time year-round is the healthier option. “The worst thing we can do is keep switching twice a year,” she says. “When our biological clock aligns with the sun, with the sun directly overhead at noon, we see better health and safety outcomes.”
So, as B.C. takes the plunge into permanent daylight saving time, the rest of Canada remains divided. Is this the start of a nationwide shift, or will the status quo prevail? What do you think? Should Canada adopt a uniform time system, or is the current patchwork approach here to stay? Let us know in the comments!
