Who's turning the clocks back in November? Daylight saving time in Canada, explained
Daylight saving time is coming to an end, but depending on where you live in Canada, you might not be turning your clocks back on Nov. 1.
Gone are the days of late sunsets, and soon, we’ll be trading daylight in the evening for brighter mornings as much of the country returns to standard time.
The thing about daylight saving time is that most people just aren’t fans. For years, Canadians have called for an end to the semi-annual clock change, with petitions making the rounds every time November rolls around.
In 2026, some provinces actually made moves to ditch the seasonal time change, while others are sticking with the status quo.
With different rules emerging across the country, keeping track of what the time is and where can get confusing fast — especially when you have family in other parts of Canada, or you’re like Daily Hive and work with teams scattered across various time zones.
We’re breaking down what’s happening in every province and territory ahead of Nov. 1, when daylight saving time ends in most of Canada.
British Columbia
British Columbia is officially done with the semi-annual clock change. After moving clocks forward in March, the entire province will stay on Pacific Time year-round, meaning no one in the province will need to turn clocks back on Nov. 1.
So, what does this mean for the rest of Canada? While it used to be 6 a.m. in B.C. when it was 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, the time difference will now shrink to just two hours, so when it’s 7 a.m. in B.C., that means it’s 9 a.m. in Ontario.
B.C. will remain one hour behind Alberta, and four hours behind most of Atlantic Canada.
Alberta
Alberta is also saying goodbye to the seasonal clock change, with the province adopting permanent Alberta Time, previously known as Mountain Daylight Time.
Albertans won’t have to turn their clocks back in the fall (or turn their clocks forward in the spring) and will stay on the same time year-round. This subsequently means longer dark mornings in the winter, which, as imagined, not everyone is pleased about.
Starting Nov. 1, the province will be just one hour behind most of Ontario, including Toronto, instead of two hours.
Saskatchewan
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Saskatchewan, for the most part, stopped changing its clocks way back in 1966. Since then, the province has observed Central Standard Time year-round. Previously, just the city of Lloydminster would switch to Mountain Standard Time during the winter months but as of 2026, the whole province is in sync.
With Alberta’s move to permanent daylight saving time in 2026, the two provinces will be in the same time zone year-round, meaning Saskatchewan will also be one hour ahead of B.C.
Manitoba
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced in September that the province would end seasonal clock changes and remain on daylight saving time year-round.
The move means Manitoba will keep its summer clock setting throughout the winter, giving residents later sunrises and sunsets by the clock than they would experience under standard time.
Beginning Nov. 1, Manitoba will share the same time as most of Ontario (more on that in a bit), and be two hours ahead of B.C. It will remain one hour ahead of Saskatchewan and Alberta, as well.
Ontario
Just this week, Ontario announced that parts of the northwestern province will adopt permanent daylight saving time on Nov. 1, allowing certain communities like Kenora to avoid setting their clocks back for the winter. The move is intended to keep the region aligned with neighbouring Manitoba, which also moved to permanent daylight saving time.
However, not all of Ontario is changing. Most of the province, including Toronto and Ottawa, will continue to turn clocks back on Nov. 1 and observe Eastern Standard Time through the winter.
As a result, most of Ontario will be two hours ahead of B.C. and one hour ahead of Alberta beginning Nov. 1. Something to keep in mind for those who have work meetings, business operations, or travel across provincial borders.
Quebec
Quebec is turning its clocks back one hour on Nov. 1, sticking within the eastern time zone.
As a result, the province will be one hour ahead of Manitoba and Alberta and two hours ahead of B.C. this winter, which could make a difference for anyone travelling, working or keeping in touch with people across the various provinces.
Atlantic Canada
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Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and most of Newfoundland and Labrador continue to observe daylight saving time and will set its clocks back one hour on Nov. 1.
We say “most of” because Newfoundland and Labrador has its own time-zone quirks. Parts of the province follow Newfoundland Time, which is half an hour ahead of the rest of Atlantic Canada.
After the change, most of Atlantic Canada will be three hours ahead of B.C., two hours ahead of Alberta and one hour ahead of Ontario (for the most part, as explained above), for anyone wanting to keep in touch with friends or family across provinces.
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is officially ending seasonal time changes on Nov. 1, meaning residents won’t have to turn their clocks anymore. Instead, the territory will stay on the same time year-round, adopting a permanent time standard known as Northwest Territories Time.
The change keeps the territory aligned with Alberta and Saskatchewan, which will also remain on the same time year-round.
Yukon
The Yukon got rid of daylight saving time back in 2020, and since then, it has not turned the clocks back or forward.
The territory sticks to the same time year-round, using Yukon Standard Time, which matches Pacific Daylight Time in B.C. That means while many parts of Canada will adjust their clocks on Nov. 1, things will just carry on as usual in the Yukon.
Nunavut
Nunavut is the one territory that still observes daylight saving time and therefore the clocks will go back one hour on Nov. 1. And because of its massive geographic size, it has three different time zones.
Following similar moves by other territories, the Nunavut government is reportedly exploring the possibility of ending seasonal time changes; however, nothing has been announced for 2026 just yet.
For now, Nunavut’s Kitikmeot region will share the same time as B.C. and the Yukon, while the Kivalliq region will be one hour ahead of B.C. but the same time as Alberta. Qikiqtaaluk, or Baffin Region, will be two hours ahead of B.C. and just one hour ahead of Alberta.
It can be a lot to wrap your head around. The Government of Canada has a handy page on time zones and daylight saving time but recommends contacting specific provincial and territorial governments for the most up-to-date information.