Copyright kelownacapnews
For most Canadians, the twice-yearly time change is an annoying fact of life. Daylight Saving Time has clocks set ahead by one hour each spring, and then set back by one hour in the fall. The most recent change, on Nov. 2, saw most Canadians set their clocks back by one hour. This means morning light comes sooner, but many commuters are now driving home in the dark. The Yukon, most of Saskatchewan and parts of British Columbia and Quebec do not use Daylight Saving Time, but the rest of the country goes through the time change. The time change was first used in the early 20th century and was done to make better use of the longer daylight hours in the summer. However, there are also some concerning health effects related to the time change. Some studies have suggested increases in health risks and heart attacks as a result of the time shifts. Daylight Saving Time was once used in most of the world, but today, it is predominantly used in Canada, the United States and much of Europe. In the Southern Hemisphere, Chile, New Zealand and parts of Australia continue to use Daylight Saving Time. Canada has had numerous calls to end this time shift practice in recent years. The most recent is a private member’s bill by Liberal MP Marie-France Lalonde. This bill calls on Canada to opt out of the time change entirely. In the past, calls to end Daylight Saving Time, or to remain on it year-round, have not gained much traction. Canada’s biggest trading partner, the United States, continues to use Daylight Saving Time. A common time pattern between the two countries has been seen as a convenience for businesses working between the two countries. However, over the past year, relations between the two countries have changed significantly, and holding on to the time changes to be in sync with the Americans no longer has the same level of appeal. In the end, the decision on whether to keep Daylight Saving Time should not depend on what the rest of the world is doing, but rather what is in the best interests of Canada. The calls to end Daylight Saving Time in Canada are happening frequently enough to show there is a growing frustration with the practice. Whether Canada continues to keep Daylight Saving Time or decides to abandon it is something that deserves some careful consideration and discussion. — Black Press
