As the weather begins to cool and the days grow shorter, Canadians are preparing to turn back their clocks as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end for the year. This annual tradition will see clocks set back by one hour at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2, providing an extra hour of sleep for everyone.
With the time change comes the shift to earlier sunrises and quicker sunsets, signaling the arrival of the winter season. This year’s DST switch will occur a day earlier than last year, on Nov. 2, and in 2026, Canadians can expect the clocks to change even earlier on Nov. 1.
Daylight Saving Time has been a long-standing practice in Canada since 1908, yet it continues to spark debate among policymakers and the public. In an effort to end the biannual clock changes, the Ford government in Ontario passed a bill in November 2020 to keep the province on Daylight Saving Time permanently, pending similar actions from New York and Québec.
Recent developments show promising signs, with both jurisdictions considering the move towards a consistent time system. In October 2024, Quebec initiated a public consultation on the time change, while across the border, former U.S. President Donald Trump advocated for an end to clock changes and the establishment of permanent DST in April.
