By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Alberta government is expected to introduce legislation this week to permanently adopt daylight saving time. This move, confirmed by government sources, will eliminate the biannual clock changes and align Alberta with Saskatchewan’s year-round time. The decision follows British Columbia’s recent permanent switch to daylight saving time and revisits a topic previously debated in a narrow referendum, though earlier surveys indicated strong public support for permanent daylight saving time. If passed, the legislation would significantly alter Alberta’s time zone relationship with other Canadian provinces.
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Alberta appears to be making a decisive move towards permanently adopting Daylight Saving Time, a decision seemingly propelled by the actions of its neighbouring provinces. The notion that Alberta is now sandwiched between British Columbia and Saskatchewan, neither of which will be engaging in the biannual clock change, has certainly exerted a considerable amount of peer pressure. This inevitability is a source of great relief for some, particularly those in parts of British Columbia that would have otherwise been left out of sync with the rest of their province, essentially residing on “Alberta time” while BC ditches the switch.
The hope is that this domino effect continues, with Manitoba potentially being next to fall in line. The vision being painted is one where a significant swathe of the country, potentially around 40% of its width from British Columbia all the way to Saskatchewan, can finally say goodbye to the practice of changing their clocks. This sentiment echoes a long-held desire for many, with some expressing years of wishing Ontario would cease the adjustments, finding themselves perfectly content with the prospect of permanent time.
There’s a palpable sense of relief and anticipation that the “anachronistic tradition” of twice-yearly clock changes might finally be fading from coast to coast. Many are incredibly jealous of Alberta’s impending switch, wishing their own regions would follow suit. The idea that once British Columbia made the move, others would inevitably follow, seems to be holding true, sparking optimism for a more unified timekeeping system across North America.
The expectation is that this move could eventually encourage the American House and Senate to pass similar legislation, like the Sunshine Protection Act. However, there’s also a healthy dose of skepticism, with some vowing to believe it only when it’s officially made. The “expecting” has been going on for years, after all. The question then naturally arises: can other provinces, like Ontario, be convinced to join this movement? The argument is made that these regions don’t need to wait for places like New York and Quebec; why not take the lead for once?
While the convenience of not having to change clocks is widely welcomed, there’s also a degree of curiosity and concern about the potential long-term consequences. Some are eager to see if this permanent shift will mirror the positive outcomes seen elsewhere, or if it might end up like the United States in the 1970s or Russia in the 2010s, where permanent Daylight Saving Time was ultimately met with such discontent during the winter months that a return to biannual switching became necessary. The wish is for all of North America to eventually get on the same page regarding time zones, as the current fragmented approach can create significant headaches, especially in the realm of computer programming.
For some, this news from Alberta is a welcome break from more disheartening provincial news, a moment of genuine positivity. However, there’s a counterpoint raised, suggesting that if the science were truly considered, standard time, not Daylight Saving Time, would have been the chosen path. This perspective points to a perceived “Alberta stance” of disregarding scientific counsel. Despite this potential scientific debate, the core benefit of eliminating clock changes is seen as a significant win, with many stating they would accept almost any time zone as long as it remains constant.
The immediate concern raised by this permanent shift to Daylight Saving Time is the prospect of very late sunrises during the winter months. The thought of the sun not appearing until as late as 9:00 AM or even 9:50 AM is a significant worry, with the potential for children to be going to school in the dark. Interestingly, for some in the specific regions experiencing this, they apparently already go to school in the dark, meaning there might be no perceived morning difference for them, though it would be a substantial change for others.
From the perspective of someone in a country that doesn’t observe Daylight Saving Time, the question arises as to why not simply reschedule work hours by an hour or so to keep official time aligned with the rest of the world, especially if the DST move is permanent. The prediction is that with those very late winter sunrises, regret will quickly set in. This leads to a clarification of the time zone shift: it appears BC is settling on permanent Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7), and Alberta will be adopting permanent Central Standard Time (UTC-6), effectively moving one time zone to the east.
The concern about people hating the winter hours, with light not appearing until 9:00 in the morning, is a recurring theme. The idea of a permanent switch is being met with a desire for consistency, a sentiment that resonates with the notion that moving clocks twice a year simply doesn’t make sense. The argument is that provinces often seem to try everything else before implementing the one change that truly makes sense.
There’s a certain provincial pride, a sense of “one of us,” in adhering to this tradition. For those who have had to navigate the complexities of working in border towns like Lloydminster, the constant flux in start times due to time changes has been a recurring nightmare. It’s expected that Quebec will likely continue to do its own thing, changing time because they believe they “know better.” The Yukon is also mentioned as having followed BC’s lead.
However, there’s a legislative safety net in place for some provinces, like Ontario, which has a law stating they will automatically stop adjusting if both Quebec and New York do. The feeling is that they are sitting back and waiting rather than leading. The reason for this waiting game is often tied to the stock market and its direct connection to New York State’s timekeeping practices.
Ontario, in particular, has a law on the books to cease adjustments if Quebec and New York do, and Quebec, in turn, has a similar provision to follow New York’s lead. Therefore, the pressure, or blame, for not making a definitive move often falls on New York State, as they are the linchpin. It’s understandable that some regions would prefer to wait for New York and Quebec to reach an agreement, as it’s not an unreasonable stance to take.
Digging into the legislative details, Ontario actually passed a bill in November 2020 to establish year-round observance of Daylight Saving Time. However, this act is not yet in force and awaits a proclamation by the lieutenant governor, intentionally designed to avoid moving to a different time zone than Quebec or New York. This creates a fascinating dynamic where a province that was historically the first in the world to enact DST is now waiting on others to make it permanent.
There’s a clear division of opinion on who would be against permanent summer time, and the proximity of November provides a glimmer of hope for some provinces to join the club this year. In the United States, there’s hesitancy to stop changing clocks at the moment, with concerns that the current administration might enact permanent winter time instead. The idea of everyone simply using UTC time and adjusting work schedules accordingly is proposed as a more logical global standard, questioning the need for noon to align with the sun’s highest point.
The sentiment that “no time change = good” is widely shared, even if the idea of 1 PM being the solar peak feels counterintuitive to some. The news that Alberta is making the switch is met with a resigned “It’s official.” It’s noted that Alberta had previously held a referendum where a slim majority favored continuing the clock changes, leading to the government kicking the can down the road. Now, with a provincial neighbour making the move, the government has announced its decision. The delay in other provinces is sometimes attributed to political distractions, like perceived wasteful spending on a private jet.
The dependence on New York’s decision is a recurring theme, as is the observation that Saskatchewan, their neighbour, is not switching and seems to be managing perfectly well. The reality of winter sunrises in provincial capitals like Edmonton, where the sun isn’t up until around 8:30 AM, is highlighted as a significant factor. The global disparity in DST practices, with different hemispheres operating oppositely, adds another layer of complexity, leading some to wish for a global abolition of Daylight Saving Time, believing it cannot come soon enough.
Programmers, in particular, tend to avoid touching time zone code, relying on complex libraries maintained by a select few. The depth of the issue has been explored in detailed videos, suggesting the topic is far from simple. The common dismissal of “reddit scientists” who bring up studies from California is noted, with the argument that such studies lack external validity for Canadian latitudes. The core concern for many is not wanting to exist in darkness all winter, a direct consequence of permanent Daylight Saving Time.
There’s a recognition that the science around DST and standard time presents both benefits and drawbacks, but the act of changing clocks itself is universally detrimental. Therefore, the choice isn’t about a clear “winner” between DST and standard time, but about selecting one and sticking with it. The debate then shifts to whether standard time is demonstrably superior. Some argue that while they don’t necessarily care about seeing the sun in the morning, they do care about the sun setting as early as 3:30 PM.
The counterargument is that in winter, the sun isn’t fully up until most people are already at their desks indoors. Regardless of the scientific specifics, the desire for later sunsets in winter is strong, leading to a sentiment of “morning bastards gonna morning whether it’s light or not.” The call is to embrace later sunsets, even if it means a more drastic shift, like moving clocks forward two or even three hours.