The True Post (Web News) | MUHAMMAD AMANULLAH | October 30, 2026
Canadians will turn their clocks back by one hour on Sunday, November 1, as daylight saving time comes to an end, giving residents an extra hour of sleep. However, this year’s time change could be the last for some parts of the country, as several provinces have decided to maintain the same time throughout the year.
At 2 a.m. on November 1, clocks will be turned back to 1 a.m. The annual practice of moving clocks forward during the warmer months to make better use of evening daylight will come to an end, although most of Ontario will continue following the traditional system for now.
Ontario’s Decision Depends on Quebec and New York
In 2020, the Ontario government passed legislation to maintain daylight saving time throughout the year. However, implementation was made conditional on Quebec and the US state of New York adopting the same approach.
The US Senate has yet to decide on a bill for permanent daylight saving time that was previously approved by the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Quebec’s new government has indicated that it intends to end the practice of changing clocks after this weekend.
If Quebec proceeds with the move, it will follow the example of British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba, which have decided to maintain daylight time throughout the year starting this year. The Northwest Territories have also adopted the same system.
Some parts of northwestern Ontario will also remain on daylight time year-round to maintain consistency with Manitoba.
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan stopped changing its clocks in 1966, while Yukon ended the practice in 2020.
Different Time Zones Could Create Confusion
The differing decisions by Canadian provinces could make the country’s time system increasingly complicated.
Dr. Patricia Lakin-Thomas, a professor of biology at York University, believes the coming winter could create considerable confusion for residents as it becomes more difficult to keep track of time differences across various parts of Canada.
She said she even needs to keep a map of Canada on her computer to determine which regions are following which time zones.
Dr. Lakin-Thomas also warned that residents of provinces adopting permanent daylight time could face difficulties during winter because of later sunrises. In some areas, the sun may not rise until 9 a.m., 9:30 a.m. or even later, potentially changing public opinion about the system.
Clock Changes Can Affect Sleep and Health
Daylight saving time was introduced in Canada during the First World War. The original objective was to make better use of natural daylight and save energy by reducing the need for artificial lighting and heating.
However, the argument for energy conservation has become less significant in modern times. Health experts say sudden changes to clock time can disrupt human sleep patterns and the body’s natural biological processes.
According to Dr. Patricia Lakin-Thomas, exposure to natural morning light is essential for maintaining the body’s internal biological clock. During winter, late sunrises can make it difficult for people to wake up in darkness and travel to work or school.
She explained that extended evening daylight can also interfere with the body’s natural sleep cycle. People tend to go to bed later, making it harder to get sufficient sleep when they have to wake up at their usual time in the morning.
An analysis published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, which reviewed several research studies, also identified permanent standard time as a better option for human health. The main reason was that this system allows people’s waking hours to align more closely with natural sunrise times.
Experts say even a one-hour change in clock time can disrupt the body’s natural rhythm, potentially leading to sleep disturbances and other health problems. Various studies have also linked disrupted sleep patterns with increased risks of diabetes, weight gain, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.
Previous Experiments With Permanent Daylight Time Have Failed
Dr. Patricia Lakin-Thomas said politicians often present permanent daylight time as a positive development for the public, arguing that it would give families more daylight during the evening.
However, she pointed out that the additional evening daylight comes at the expense of natural morning light.
According to her, Russia previously experimented with maintaining daylight saving time throughout the year but abandoned the system after three years. The United Kingdom also reversed its decision within two years.
The United States introduced year-round daylight saving time in 1974 during an energy crisis. However, following public opposition, the decision was reversed after just one year.
Daylight saving time expert Dr. David Prerau said the public initially welcomed the decision, but opposition grew once people experienced the practical consequences, including travelling to work in darkness and sending children to school before sunrise.
He said people generally focus on the inconvenience of changing clocks but often overlook the potential negative consequences of maintaining permanent daylight time during winter.
Referring to a historical example, Dr. Prerau explained that after the Second World War, some American cities were allowed to choose between daylight saving time and standard time independently. This created widespread confusion.
According to him, the situation became so complicated that people sometimes struggled to determine the correct local time even when making telephone calls to other cities.
At one point, the neighbouring Minnesota cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis were even following different times.
With Canadian provinces now making different decisions about their time systems, the coming winter could present a new challenge for residents, businesses and organizations trying to coordinate activities across different regions of the country.
