In exactly one month, many Canadians will change their clocks back one hour, but one Liberal MP wants to stop that.
Marie-France Lalonde says she will soon introduce a private members’ bill so Canada can decide on just one time and no longer participate in Daylight Saving Time.
“My [bill] will seek to ask the federal government to hold a pan-Canadian conference alongside their provincial and territorial counterparts, as well as our Indigenous partners, to formalize an agreement to end this practice and establish one set time in Canada,” Lalonde told Parliament Wednesday.
She adds it is not up to the federal government alone.
“Time regulation is a provincial and territorial jurisdiction, but what we can do, and we must do, is bring all jurisdictions to the table. A united front is the only way to ensure meaningful, nation-wide change. I believe Canada can be a leader on this matter and set the precedent to allow others to follow our lead.”
Lalonde says time change is dangerous.
“It makes life hard on parents and on our most vulnerable seniors, for whom we know routine is essential. Perhaps most importantly, it has tremendous health and mental health consequences that many of us may not realize. In fact, the data is clear, studies show increases in heart attacks, strokes and even miscarriages following time changes. The statistic that shocked me the most… is 11 to 15 per cent miscarriages during the spring change.”
She claims it’s also impacting the economy.
“It is a practice that increases costs for small businesses and employers. It impacts the work of our agriculture sector and our farmers. It adds provincial barriers by having markets open at different times. It is proven to negatively impact our public safety. We know there are more road accidents, including pedestrians getting hit by cars… when the time changes.”
Not all communities participate in Daylight Saving Time. In B.C., Chetwynd, Creston, Fort St. John, and Dawson Creek do not change their clocks, remaining on Mountain Standard Time year-round.
The majority of Saskatchewan is on Central Standard Time. In Ontario, communities like Pickle Lake, and Atikokan don’t observe it. While Yukon switched permanently to Daylight Saving Time five years ago.
Clocks fall back on Nov. 2 and will spring forward again on March 8.
Source/Vancouver City News
