British Columbia scraps seasonal time changes for good this weekend
British Columbia is set to end seasonal clock changes by adopting permanent daylight saving time. The shift comes after years of debate about the health and economic impacts of switching between standard and daylight time. Residents will experience one final time change this weekend before the province locks in the new system.
The province will make its last transition to daylight time on March 8, when clocks spring forward. Then, on November 1, British Columbia will officially switch to Pacific time year-round, aligning with the Yukon. Premier David Eby argued that the move will simplify daily life for families and reduce disruptions for businesses.
B.C. will remain one hour behind Washington, Oregon, and California during winter months after the change. Eby expressed hope that neighbouring U.S. states might follow suit in abandoning the twice-yearly time shifts. Meanwhile, Ontario's plans to end daylight time remain stalled, as the province requires both Quebec and New York to agree before making any changes.
The debate over daylight time often resurfaces around the biannual clock adjustments, according to political science professor Peter Graefe. Most Canadian provinces and territories still observe daylight time, with exceptions like Saskatchewan, which has used central standard time permanently since 1966, and the Yukon, which dropped daylight time in 2020. Quebec's eastern region also avoids time changes by staying on Atlantic standard time year-round.
Liberal MP Marie-France Lalonde recently introduced a private member's bill to end daylight time in Canada, pointing to health concerns and trade complications. However, no other provinces besides B.C. have yet committed to permanent daylight time.
British Columbia's decision means residents will no longer face seasonal time changes after this weekend. The province will join a small group of regions in Canada that have abandoned the practice. The move could influence neighbouring areas, though no immediate changes are expected elsewhere.
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