B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad has introduced a bill to end twice-yearly clock changes in the province.
Most parts of B.C. change the time to move forward an hour in the spring, and move back an hour in the fall.
The B.C. legislature gave first reading to Bill M206, the Interpretation (Pacific Daylight Time) Amendment Act, on March 13.
Rustad said the vast majority of B.C. residents are tired of changing clocks twice a year.
“This leads to sleep deprivation. It has led to health issues, car accidents. There are many issues associated with this,” he said when introducing the bill in the legislature.
He noted that the NDP government passed a bill to make the change in 2019, but never implemented it.
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“I think it’s worth noting that when asked why this bill was never enacted [they said] they’re waiting for the Americans to take the lead. It is high time that we take the lead in British Columbia for British Columbians as opposed to following the Americans’ lead,” Rustad said.
However, Premier David Eby recently said the issue is not a priority for his government.
“Trust me, I am as sympathetic as the next guy to kids that have trouble adjusting to time changes, or pets, or just waking up feeling like you’re an hour behind,” Eby said during an unrelated March 12 news conference. “But in this moment, that is not government’s number one priority.”
In 2019, the B.C. government asked residents in an online survey if they wanted to move to permanent daylight saving time.
More than 220,000 people responded, with 93 percent saying they would prefer to make the permanent change rather than switching their clocks twice a year.
Of those who responded, 54 percent said it was “important” or “very important” for the province to align its time observance with neighbouring jurisdictions.
Three-quarters of those who wanted year-round daylight saving time cited health and wellness concerns as a reason.
The government says on its website it is waiting for U.S. states to make a similar move. “On October 31, 2019, government introduced legislative amendments that will allow for a future move to permanent daylight saving time,” it said.
“The change will not take effect until B.C. can maintain alignment with Washington, Oregon, California and Yukon, which are all in the process of creating or enacting similar legislation.”
