B.C. makes daylight time permanent, ending clock changes. Here’s what it means for sleep, business, and cross-border time differences.
B.C. Ends Clock Changes for Good
Get ready, British Columbia. This weekend marks the final time you will ever spring forward.
The B.C. government has confirmed that daylight time will stay in place all year. So, after clocks move ahead one hour on Sunday, they will not fall back in November. For many, that means no more biannual grogginess and no more fiddling with oven clocks.
Premier David Eby says the twice-a-year time shift has caused more harm than good. Parents lose sleep. Kids feel off schedule. Even pets stick to their internal clocks. As a result, mornings feel rougher and roads feel riskier.
According to Eby, research links time changes to more car crashes and short-term health impacts. Therefore, he argues, ending the switch simply makes sense.
A Promise Years in the Making
This shift did not happen overnight.
Back in 2019, the province passed legislation allowing the move to permanent daylight time. At the time, public support ran high. In fact, 93 per cent of respondents in a provincial consultation backed the idea.
However, many also said they preferred to wait until neighbouring U.S. states made the same move. Then-premier John Horgan and Eby, who served as attorney general, signalled they would co-ordinate with places like Washington, Oregon and California.
That co-ordination never came.
Now, B.C. is moving ahead anyway.
What This Means for Time Zones
Because U.S. west coast states still change their clocks, B.C. could sit one hour ahead of Washington, Oregon and California for about four months each year.
Meanwhile, for part of the year, B.C. will share the same time as Alberta. Then, for the rest, it will fall an hour behind.
Some regions will also adjust. Parts of northeastern B.C., which currently observe mountain standard time year-round, will align with the rest of the province. Meanwhile, a section of the Kootenays will continue changing clocks alongside Alberta.
Elsewhere in Canada, Yukon adopted permanent daylight time in 2020. Saskatchewan effectively stays on daylight time year-round as well.
Business Groups Raise Concerns
Not everyone feels thrilled.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says it received little warning. Ryan Mitton, the group’s B.C. legislative director, argues that cross-border companies could face confusion. For example, businesses working with U.S. partners may need to adjust contracts and schedules.
The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade also questions the timing. CEO Bridgitte Anderson suggests the province should focus more on economic concerns, especially given a projected $13.3 billion deficit.
Similarly, Business Council of B.C. president Laura Jones says many residents lie awake worrying about the economy, not the clock.
Economists Point to Health Benefits
Still, some experts say fears may be overstated.
University of B.C. economist Werner Antweiler believes the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. He compares the spring time change to imposing jet lag on the entire population. That lost hour, he says, has linked to lower productivity and higher hospital visits.
Therefore, by staying on daylight time year-round, the province may support better sleep patterns and steadier routines.
Parents Welcome Simpler Mornings
For some families, the change feels like a relief.
Victoria parent Sarah Van Vugt, who has two young children, says managing time shifts adds stress. Although darker winter mornings may continue, she notes that walking to school before sunrise already comes with Canadian winters.
In her view, removing one layer of complexity helps.
What Happens Next?
Now, all eyes turn south.
Eby says he hopes U.S. states will soon follow B.C.’s lead. If they do, the Pacific coast could once again share the same clock year-round.
Until then, British Columbians can look forward to one small but meaningful win: no more changing the clocks.
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