Muhammad Amanullah
Date: September 19, 2026 The True Post (Web News) —Canada’s system of changing clocks twice a year is facing further changes, particularly in the western parts of the country, as more provinces and territories move toward keeping a fixed time throughout the year.
Manitoba has now become the latest province to move away from the traditional practice of turning clocks forward and backward seasonally. British Columbia, Alberta and the Northwest Territories have also taken steps toward maintaining a consistent time system.
The changes mean that Canada’s already complex time-zone map could become even more varied, with neighbouring communities sometimes following different rules.
Manitoba Makes Major Change
Manitoba has decided to end the practice of changing clocks by one hour at different points of the year.
Under the new approach, the province will maintain the same time throughout the year rather than switching between standard time and daylight saving time.
Manitoba’s decision follows similar moves in several western parts of Canada, where governments have been examining whether the traditional clock-change system remains necessary.
Changes Across Western Canada
British Columbia and Alberta have already moved toward permanent time arrangements rather than continuing seasonal clock changes.
The Northwest Territories has also moved in the same direction.
Yukon ended its seasonal clock changes in 2020, while Saskatchewan abandoned the practice decades ago.
As a result, much of western Canada is moving away from the twice-yearly clock adjustment, although the exact time arrangements differ between jurisdictions.
A Unique Situation in Northwestern Ontario
The changes will also have an unusual effect in northwestern Ontario.
Some communities in the region, including Kenora, already follow the same time zone as Manitoba despite being part of Ontario.
Under the new arrangements, the area will have a different time from much of the rest of Ontario during the winter.
The region will be one hour behind Thunder Bay to the east and one hour behind Winnipeg to the west, creating an unusual time-zone situation within Ontario.
Canada Already Has Multiple Time Zones
Canada already operates across several time zones, meaning clocks are not synchronized across the country.
Ontario is not the only province with communities affected by more than one time-zone arrangement.
British Columbia’s southeastern Kootenay region, for example, has communities that align their clocks with Alberta rather than following the time used across most of British Columbia.
Labrador follows Atlantic Time, while Newfoundland uses Newfoundland Time.
Nunavut is another example of Canada’s complicated time-zone geography, with its vast territory spanning three time zones.
Ontario’s Existing Law
Ontario also passed legislation in 2020 allowing the province to potentially end the twice-yearly clock changes.
However, the legislation included a condition for implementing a permanent time system.
Ontario’s move was tied to similar action by Quebec and the U.S. state of New York.
Quebec has not adopted a province-wide change to its time system. However, Nunavik in northern Quebec has adopted permanent daylight time.
This means Ontario’s broader proposal has not resulted in a province-wide end to seasonal clock changes.
Debate Continues in the United States
The debate over changing clocks twice a year is not limited to Canada.
The United States has also been considering whether daylight saving time should become permanent.
Legislative proposals have been introduced in Congress seeking to establish a permanent daylight-saving system, while New York lawmakers have also considered legislation dealing with permanent daylight time.
The issue remains complicated because changes by one jurisdiction can affect neighbouring regions, particularly where people regularly cross provincial or international borders for work, business and travel.
Why Are Time Rules Changing?
Supporters and opponents of seasonal clock changes have different arguments.
The original rationale for daylight saving time has included making greater use of daylight during the evening months. However, the practice has increasingly been debated because of questions about its practical benefits and the effects of repeatedly changing clocks.
Sleep experts have also discussed the possible effects of time changes on sleep schedules and daily routines.
These concerns have contributed to growing interest in maintaining a consistent time throughout the year.
Canada’s Time Differences Could Become More Noticeable
The changes taking place in Manitoba and other western jurisdictions could make time differences between neighbouring parts of Canada more noticeable.
People living in nearby communities that follow different time rules may need to pay closer attention to local time when arranging business meetings, travel, school activities and other daily commitments.
For companies operating across provincial borders, even a one-hour difference can affect schedules and communication.
Canada’s traditional system of moving clocks forward and backward twice a year is therefore gradually becoming less uniform, particularly across western regions.
If more provinces and territories eventually adopt permanent time arrangements, Canada’s already complicated time-zone structure could undergo further changes.
