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British Columbia is implementing year-round daylight saving time, which means that clocks will move forward by one hour for the final time this Sunday.
Year-Round Daylight Saving Time
Premier David Eby announced on Monday that the province will no longer observe seasonal time changes.
The ruling indicates that B.C. will align its time with Yukon year-round and will synchronize with Alberta from November through March. Additionally, the province will continue to be one hour behind Washington state, Oregon, and California during the winter season.
“Adjusting our clocks biannually leads to various issues,” Eby remarked while revealing the new policy.
Impact on Daily Routines
“Children wake up at the same hour, despite the time change. Dogs rise at the same hour, even with the clocks shifting. Parents suffer from sleep deprivation. Kids experience a lack of sleep. And even those without children or parents are losing an hour of rest… Consequently, we observe an increase in car accidents and a decline in well-being, leading to significant, avoidable effects on the lives of people in British Columbia.”
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Attorney General Niki Sharma expressed her anticipation for schedules that are more consistent and reliable.
Alignment with Yukon and Alberta
“On November 1, instead of adjusting the clocks back as usual, there will be no changes, and we will have completely shifted to our new time zone known as Pacific Time,” she stated.
“Pacific Time will be adjusted to seven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time.”
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Premier’s Statement on Changes
Beginning in November 2026, British Columbia will operate two hours behind Eastern Standard Time. From March 2027 onward, the time difference will increase to three hours behind Eastern Standard Time.
During the tenure of former premier John Horgan, the NDP government of B.C. enacted legislation that allowed the province to abolish the biannual time change, yet this initiative was never put into practice.
This is due to B.C. aiming to synchronize the time change with neighboring jurisdictions on the west coast, including Washington and California, in order to prevent disruptions in business operations.
1:13 Is it possible for B.C. to independently adopt daylight saving time given the strained relations with the U.S.?
In 2020, residents of Yukon adjusted their clocks forward for the final time, adopting a permanent daylight saving time after a highly favored public consultation.
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“We had agreed to hold off until our American partners were ready,” Eby remarked.
“Unilaterally altering the time will lead to further complications for businesses functioning on both sides of the border.”
The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses described the action as a diversionary tactic.
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“The announcement made today will catch small businesses off guard and follows a hurried and limited consultation process,” stated Ryan Mitton, CFIB Director of Legislative Affairs for B.C.
“Although some individuals might feel relieved about not having to adjust the clocks annually, the disconnection with other regions could lead to confusion and disturbances. This seems to be driven by an effort to divert attention from the province’s $13-billion deficit rather than a true concern for the effects of the time change.
“Adjusting the clocks won’t alter the situation regarding the recent B.C. budget, which is detrimental to small enterprises. While the provincial government may be abolishing PST (Pacific Standard Time), they now need to eliminate the PST (Provincial Sales Tax) on professional services.”
-including materials from The Canadian Press