Ontario time change fate tied up in the whims of Quebec, New York State

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Now that Manitoba made the conversion, will Ontario follow the lead and move to permanent daylight saving time in the near future?

For the Doug Ford government, the process of switching to permanent DST is complicated; its fate is tied up in the whims of Quebec and the American government.

“In 2020, the Ontario Legislature passed Bill 214 that states Ontario will do away with daylight saving time if New York and Quebec do the same. That remains our position,” a spokesperson with the Ontario government said in an emailed statement back in March.

The American House of Representatives did pass the Sunshine Protection Act in July by a margin of 308 to 117, but the legislation has stalled since. This proposal would end the practice of adjusting clocks twice a year.

The legislation must clear the American Senate and be signed by United States President Donald Trump before it can become law.

Trump has encouraged members of the Senate to clear the bill, but with DST only six-plus weeks away, the future of the bill remains uncertain for now.

“People are sick and tired of having to change their clocks twice a year. It is foolish, inconvenient and, in some cases, very costly,” Trump said on his Truth Social account back in July.

Bill 214, known as the ‘Time Amendment Act,’ would change the terminology to “daylight savings time,” as the “standard time” year-round.

Across Canada

On Thursday, the Manitoba provincial government decided to stay with permanent daylight saving time.

“We heard from Manitobans loud and clear, no more changing the clock in Manitoba,” Premier Wab Kinew said in a press release. “Permanent daylight saving time is good for our health, good for business and good for parents. For families, especially those with young kids, that one-hour shift can disrupt sleep and routines for days. This change means one less adjustment families have to deal with each spring and fall. That’s why this November your clocks won’t be changing.”

Back in March, B.C. Premier David Eby announced that the province is adopting DST.

“This decision isn’t just about clocks. It’s about making life easier for families, reducing disruptions for businesses and supporting a stable, thriving economy,” Eby said at the time.

Alberta is making the change to permanent DST this November. The Yukon changed to permanent DST more than five years ago, and the Northwest Territories made the conversion last month.

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador and certain portions of Nunavut observe DST.

This year, the clocks will fall back an hour at 2 a.m. on Nov. 1.

ganderson@postmedia.com