The province is pushing ahead with its plan to end the practice of seasonal time changes and move to permanent daylight saving time, but it’s not known when.
On Thursday, B.C. introduced a bill that will create a new time zone, known as “Pacific Time,” and rid the province of the current “spring forward” and “fall back” system.
The bill comes after 93 per cent of British Columbians indicated support for the change during public consultation this past summer. A record-breaking 223,273 residents responded to the survey.
“British Columbians have said loud and clear that they want to do away with the practice of changing our clocks twice a year and our government is taking action,” said Premier John Horgan in a press release.
“This bill creates a clear path forward for the transition, while also ensuring we take into account every detail during implementation.”
Pacific Time will be seven hours behind co-ordinated universal time, which is the same time difference observed during daylight saving time. Northeastern B.C. and the Kootenays would remain on Mountain Time.
The province doesn’t plan on moving to Pacific Time until its trading partners south of the border also make the switch — so residents will still need to move their clocks back by one hour this Sunday.
Washington, California and Oregon are all in the process of creating or enabling similar legislation, but ultimately need the support of the U.S. Congress.
The Yukon is also working on moving to permanent daylight saving time.
However, if the current NDP government determines that making the move is in B.C’s “best interests,” it could forge ahead and make the switch without its trading partners.
Not all residents are in support of the move to permanent daylight saving time.
On Wednesday, two psychology experts from Simon Fraser University (SFU) wrote an open letter asking the provincial government to reconsider the change.
“Experts in biological rhythms and sleep unanimously agree that Standard Time year-round is the best option for public health and safety,” reads the letter.
In their letter, the experts explain that the sun would rise later in the day in permanent daylight saving time.
This would lead to sleep deprivation and social jetlag as peoples’ biological clocks reset to match daylight hours.
Sleep deprivation and social jetlag can have negative impacts on physical and mental health, and can lead to increased risks of diabetes, cancer, obesity and depression.
“Therefore, permanent DST in B.C. is expected to have adverse long-term implications for public health and safety,” according to the open letter.
