British Columbia: The British Columbia has announced it will move to year-round daylight saving time, eliminating the need for biannual clock changes starting later this year.
The western Canadian province confirmed that the upcoming one-hour clock change on March 8, 2026, will be the last seasonal shift. The time change scheduled for November 1 will be scrapped as the province transitions permanently to daylight saving time.
The decision is aimed at reducing disruptions for families, improving consistency for businesses and ensuring longer evening daylight during winter months, according to the office of Premier David Eby.
Eby stated that, “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 added that residents had made it clear that seasonal time changes do not work for them.
It’s official! We’re springing forward just one more time, and then we’re adopting permanent daylight savings time in BC. 🕰️
That means more sunshine and better sleep for people across our province. pic.twitter.com/Pl2evSRmtm
— David Eby (@Dave_Eby) March 3, 2026
Strong public backing
A 2019 public engagement report in the province found overwhelming support for the move, with 93 percent of participants backing year-round daylight saving time. Many cited concerns related to health, wellness and the disruption caused by the biannual clock changes.
Health experts globally have increasingly questioned the impact of seasonal time shifts, pointing to sleep disturbances, productivity loss and potential health risks associated with abrupt changes in daily routines.
Regional exception
A small region in eastern British Columbia that observes Mountain Time instead of Pacific Time will continue to change clocks twice a year. For the rest of the province, the new system will create seasonal alignment differences.
From November to March, Pacific Time in British Columbia will match the neighbouring province of Alberta and other regions observing Mountain Standard Time.
From March to November, British Columbia’s time will align with US west coast states such as California, Washington and Oregon, all of which have debated similar changes.
Eby expressed hope that American jurisdictions would eventually follow suit in ending what he described as disruptive time adjustments.
Global trend away from clock changes
British Columbia joins many countries that have abolished daylight saving time in recent years, including much of Asia and most of Africa. However, the majority of the United States, most European nations, and parts of Canada, Australia, Latin America and the Caribbean still observe seasonal clock changes.
According to a 2023 analysis by the Pew Research Centre, roughly half of the world’s countries previously observed daylight saving time. That number has now fallen to about one-third.
Under the current system, clocks move forward by one hour in spring to begin daylight saving time and move back by one hour in autumn to return to standard time, a practice that has long sparked debate over its economic, social and health impacts.
With this shift, British Columbia positions itself among jurisdictions seeking greater time stability, reflecting growing public support for scrapping seasonal clock changes altogether.
MOST READ | US Embassy in Riyadh hit by drones as Iran claims strike on base in Bahrain
