Ottawa Liberal Member of Parliament Marie-France Lalonde is advocating for the discontinuation of biannual clock changes across all of Canada. Lalonde plans to introduce legislation aimed at eliminating the longstanding practice. She emphasized the need to address the issue of time change, noting that Canadians often discuss the rationale behind adjusting their clocks. Lalonde’s proposal involves convening a conference with various stakeholders to establish a standard time that would be in effect year-round.
While many regions in Canada adhere to the time change routine, some, like Saskatchewan, Yukon, and parts of British Columbia and Nunavut, do not follow this practice. Lalonde’s initiative comes as other provinces contemplate abandoning time changes but hesitate to act independently. Atlantic premiers previously considered adopting permanent daylight saving time but expressed a willingness to proceed only if others take the lead.
Several provinces, including British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario, have aligned their time change policies with certain U.S. states. Quebec and the Northwest Territories have explored the possibility of eliminating time changes through public consultations but have not made definitive decisions. In contrast, Alberta conducted a referendum in 2021 on continuing the biannual clock changes, with a slight majority voting in favor of maintaining the practice.
Lalonde emphasized the importance of a collective decision-making process, urging unity among provinces and territories on the matter. She highlighted the significance of addressing time change at a national level to foster cohesion and inclusive decision-making. Experts have raised concerns about the health implications and potential risks associated with biannual clock adjustments, emphasizing the need for a thoughtful and informed approach to this issue.
The proposal to transition to a permanent time standard has sparked discussions on the potential impacts on sleep patterns and overall well-being. Experts caution that adopting permanent daylight time could disrupt circadian rhythms, particularly in the winter months when sunrise occurs later. Conversely, a shift to standard time could result in earlier sunsets during the summer, potentially affecting various regions differently.
Rébecca Robillard from the Canada Sleep Research Consortium echoed support for Lalonde’s initiative, emphasizing the importance of informed societal deliberations in shaping decisions on time change. Lalonde acknowledged that the legislative process for her private member’s bill may take time but emphasized the importance of initiating dialogue on this issue at the national level.
