Most Canadians want to end clock changes for daylight saving time | National

Gary A Corcoran Arts/ShutterstockCanadians are fed up with having to change their clocks, and most want to end the practice entirely. However, they are divided on whether they prefer standard or daylight saving time. Angus Reid Institute released the findings of an online survey it conducted from March 11 to 16, 2026, of a randomized sample of 3,025 Canadian adults. “If you had to choose, which option is your most preferred when it comes to time changes for your province?” the survey asked. The options were: Always being on daylight saving time (later sunsets in the evening) Always being on standard time (earlier sunrises in the morning) Switching back and forth — spring forward, fall back Angus Reid found that an overwhelming majority of Canadians support ending the practice of clock-changing biannually. Only 14 per cent of Canadians said they prefer the springing forward and falling back of clocks. Angus Reid Institute The report comes after British Columbia became the second province to end time changes and move to permanent daylight saving time. This decision was made based on the results of a 2019 public engagement survey, which found that over 93 per cent of a record 223,000 British Columbians wanted to remain on year-round daylight saving time (DST). Other than B.C., most of Saskatchewan is on year-round Central Standard Time. Angus Reid did note that B.C.’s survey only asked respondents if the province should adopt year-round DST and did not ask about year-round standard time. The research company’s survey found more of a divide between Canadians, with many preferring to be on year-round DST (53 per cent) rather than year-round standard time (33 per cent). “This is the case across the country except in Saskatchewan, where the preference is for permanent standard time as it is now,” reads the report. Angus Reid Institute Although more Canadians prefer DST, it might not be the best choice for their health. In the aftermath of B.C.’s DST announcement, experts are raising concerns about the health implications of adopting it permanently, including sleep deprivation, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. The risk for these chronic health problems is higher in DST than in standard time, according to experts. The history of daylight saving time in Canada Although Germany and Austria were the first countries to popularize DST, one city in Ontario was actually the first in the world to implement the time change. Port Arthur, Ont. (which is now a part of Thunder Bay), was the first-ever city to turn its clocks forward one hour on July 1, 1908, enacting the world’s first DST period. Since the late 1960s, Canada has closely synchronized daylight saving time with the U.S. for economic and social purposes. Canada followed suit after the U.S. standardized DST in 1966 and again after 2005, when the U.S. added parts of March and November to the DST period. B.C. was initially going to wait to move to permanent DST until the states of Washington, Oregon, and California did the same. Standard or daylight saving time? Which one do you prefer and why? Let us know in the comments or email us at trending@dailyhive.com with your thoughts. You might also like:Tim Hortons offering refunds for thousands of recalled mugsPopular cruise line hikes fees, leaving Canadians paying more at seaLoblaw responds to claims that it's downplaying recent data breach affecting Canadians