We’re just a couple of weeks away from switching the clocks back by one hour on Nov. 2, allowing a little more time to rest, but weren’t we supposed to stop changing the clocks in B.C.?
Late B.C. Premier John Horgan first announced the idea when he was in charge.
Many B.C. residents responded to a 2019 survey, stating they wanted to switch to daylight saving time year-round.
“In 2019, more than 93% of a record 223,000 British Columbians told us they wanted to remain on year-round daylight-saving time (DST). It is as clear a message as we could hope to receive. British Columbians told us that it’s important to maintain alignment with our neighbours in Washington, Oregon, and California,” the B.C. Ministry of Attorney General told Daily Hive in 2023.
There have been a few updates since then at the provincial level, but nothing concrete.
However, recently, there was a notable development at the federal level, and a new Private Member’s Bill could end the time-changing practice once and for all.
Orléans Liberal MP Marie-France Lalonde is leading the charge against time changes, announcing that she will introduce the bill to “establish one set time in Canada.”
“Canadians will often engage in conversation or debates about why it is we continue to change our clocks back and forward,” she said in a press conference on Oct. 2, exactly one month before daylight saving time ends. “Today, I’m here to say the time has come to address time change.”
Naturally, we asked the B.C. Ministry of Attorney General what it made of the bill, considering the province’s expressed desire to stop the yearly time changes.
“We are aware of the intentions of MP Lalonde to table a private member’s bill this week regarding Daylight Saving Time. Time regulation falls under provincial and territorial jurisdiction, and B.C. will make its decision based on policy considerations that are relevant to the province,” the ministry told Daily Hive.
“We are considering our next steps and will monitor the federal bill as it proceeds,” it added.
So, there’s still nothing concrete, and it appears as though it’s still a waiting game for any actual changes to daylight saving in B.C. while the federal government considers the bill.
At least we’ll get an extra hour of sleep when the clocks turn back by one hour on Nov. 2.