Canada Splits on Time Changes as Eastern Clocks Fall Back and Western Provinces Stick to Year-Round Daylight Time
On Sunday, a large portion of eastern Canada turns their clocks back, whereas the western region will bypass the shift this year. Here’s a look at the breakdown of what it means to residents: British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories have all moved away from the traditional twice-yearly time change, leaving different rules in place across the country.
British Columbia and Alberta Adopt Permanent Daylight Time
British Columbia announced in March that it was moving to permanent Pacific daylight time. Consequently, areas of northeastern B.C. previously stuck on mountain standard time throughout the entire year now match the schedule of the rest of the province. It will be aligned with Washington State in the summer months and one hour ahead in winter. Alberta, located in the mountain time zone, also switched to permanent daylight time this year. The province calls it Alberta time. Joining them in ending seasonal adjustments, the Northwest Territories followed Alberta’s lead earlier this year to end seasonal time changes. The territory is on permanent daylight time, while Yukon moved to end time changes in 2020. The territory observes mountain standard time.
Ontario and Quebec Wait on Regional Neighbors
Provinces in central and eastern Canada continue to grapple with varying legislative requirements for shifting time. Back in 2020, Ontario enacted legislation to abolish the biannual clock adjustments in favor of permanent daylight time, contingent upon identical action from Quebec and New York. Earlier this month, a new regulation was released by the province keeping a section of the northwest on year-round time to match Manitoba. Meanwhile, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says his government intends to abolish the time change. He mentioned on Oct. 28 that the administration has yet to determine whether standard time or daylight time will be adopted year-round. In 2022, the Atlantic provinces opted to postpone any efforts to eliminate the time shift until observing the decisions made by adjacent regions.
Manitoba and Saskatchewan Maintain Central Time Distinctions
Because Manitoba plans to maintain daylight time within the central time zone, it will remain an hour ahead and out of sync with its fellow Prairie provinces. During winter months, the province will match the time in Ontario and Quebec, while dropping one hour behind them during the summer. Saskatchewan has been on permanent central standard time since 1966. Further north, Nunavut spans three time zones; continues to change clocks twice a year except for Southampton Island.
