Twice every year, Canadians are forced to fiddle with their clocks “springing forward” in March and “falling back” in November. What was once a practical measure has now turned into a frustrating and outdated ritual. Liberal MP Marie-France Lalonde has taken a bold step by announcing her plan to table a private member’s bill to finally put an end to this practice. And honestly, it’s about time.
The twice-yearly time change may seem harmless, but the evidence says otherwise. Lalonde rightly points out that these abrupt shifts have real consequences: increased health problems, disrupted sleep patterns, and even a spike in vehicle accidents. Studies around the world have repeatedly shown that daylight time transitions can increase stress on the body, leading to heart issues and reduced productivity. Why, then, are we still clinging to a system that clearly does more harm than good?
Of course, changing how time is regulated in Canada isn’t simple. Time falls under provincial and territorial jurisdiction, which means Ottawa can’t act alone. Lalonde’s proposal is sensible: bring together federal, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners to reach a coordinated decision. Without a pan-Canadian approach, we risk ending up with a confusing patchwork of time zones across the country.
Some regions are already ahead of the curve. Yukon and Saskatchewan no longer observe the time change, and several other provinces are actively studying the issue. Meanwhile, the United States and the European Union are also rethinking their approach. The writing is on the wall: the world is moving away from daylight time.
This is not a partisan issue it’s a practical one. Canadians deserve consistency, better health, and safer roads. The twice-yearly clock shift has outlived its usefulness, and Lalonde’s initiative could be the push we need to finally let go of this relic of the past.
It’s time for Canada to stop changing the clock and start changing the policy.
