British Columbia Still Observing Daylight Saving Time Despite 2019 Decision to Switch
British Columbia will once again set clocks forward for daylight saving time on Sunday at 2 a.m. local time. This comes despite a 2019 decision by the provincial government to move to permanent daylight time.
British Columbians Voted for Change
In 2019, more than 223,000 residents participated in a public consultation on daylight time. An overwhelming 93% supported making daylight time permanent. However, the government did not set a firm timeline for the transition.
Waiting on U.S. States
Premier David Eby has maintained that B.C. would not act alone. Instead, the province has been waiting for neighboring U.S. states—Washington, Oregon, and California—to make the change. These states have expressed interest but have not yet implemented permanent daylight time.
The Sunshine Protection Act Stalls
The U.S. Sunshine Protection Act aims to make daylight time permanent nationwide. Though the Senate passed the bill in 2022, it has yet to pass in the House of Representatives. In January 2025, Florida Senator Rick Scott reintroduced the bill, citing strong public support for eliminating clock changes. Former U.S. President Donald Trump also supported scrapping daylight saving time.
Trade Tensions May Impact Decision
Recent developments have raised questions about whether B.C. should continue waiting. On Tuesday, the U.S. imposed 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods. Premier Eby acknowledged that worsening relations might influence the decision to move forward independently.
“We should stand on our own two feet as a province in relation to everything, including time zones,” Eby said during a news conference.
Other Regions Have Already Made the Shift
While most of B.C. follows daylight saving time, some regions have never switched clocks. The Peace Region and Creston operate on permanent standard time. East Kootenay aligns with Alberta’s time zone.
In 2020, Yukon adopted permanent daylight time. The transition initially caused challenges with flights and border crossings, but five years later, officials report that people have adjusted.
Experts Advise Patience
UBC business professor Werner Antweiler advises that B.C. should continue to wait for the U.S. to act. He noted that half of B.C.’s exports go to the U.S., and syncing time zones benefits economic ties.
“There is no urge to act sooner than this plays out over the next year or two,” Antweiler said.
For now, British Columbians will continue switching clocks twice a year. Whether the province will move independently on permanent daylight time remains uncertain.
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