British Columbia has announced plans to stop switching between standard and daylight saving time, making the change permanent from this year. The decision follows years of public pressure and escalating tensions with the United States under the Trump administration.
Premier David Eby stated: “We are done waiting. British Columbia is going to change our clocks just one more time – and then never again.” A 2019 consultation found that 93% of residents supported permanent daylight saving time, but the province had delayed the move to align with US states for cross-border trade.
The new policy will establish a permanent Pacific time zone, although municipalities retain the power to choose their own time zone. This could create more “time zone islands” like Creston, which has run an hour ahead of its neighbours since 1918. The Peace region, previously on mountain time year-round, will now align with the rest of the province.
The change was accelerated by “recent actions” from the US, widely interpreted as the trade war and threats to Canadian sovereignty. Provincial authorities cited “more usable light in winter evenings” and a reduced administrative burden as benefits.
However, business groups have raised concerns. Bridgitte Anderson of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade called the unilateral move “an unwelcome distraction” that would create headaches for border businesses. The Vancouver airport authority said it would assess potential scheduling and passenger implications.
