With daylight saving time just a month away, a push is underway in Canada to put an end to the clock-changing tradition. Liberal MP Marie-France Lalonde is leading the charge, planning to introduce a private members’ bill that aims to have Canada adopt a single time year-round, eliminating the need for switching clocks twice a year.
Lalonde emphasized the importance of a unified decision involving the federal government, provincial and territorial authorities, and Indigenous partners. She believes that a collective agreement is crucial to bring about meaningful change nationwide and hopes that Canada can lead by example in this matter.
Highlighting the negative impacts of time changes, Lalonde pointed out the difficulties faced by parents and vulnerable seniors, as well as the serious health consequences associated with the practice. She cited studies linking time changes to increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, and miscarriages, emphasizing the need for a more stable time system.
Moreover, Lalonde highlighted the economic repercussions, noting that daylight saving time can lead to increased costs for small businesses, affect agricultural operations, create provincial barriers due to differing market hours, and even compromise public safety with a rise in road accidents.
While some communities like Chetwynd, Creston, Fort St. John, and Dawson Creek in British Columbia, as well as areas in Saskatchewan and Ontario, already do not observe daylight saving time, Lalonde’s proposal seeks to standardize timekeeping across Canada.
As the debate over daylight saving time continues, the upcoming clock change on November 2 serves as a reminder of the ongoing discussion about the practice’s impact on society.