Clocks will soon go back in Ontario and one politician hopes it's for the last time
Daylight saving time for 2021 is about to end and Ontarians will have to turn their clocks back—but one politician is hopeful it could be for the last time.
Nearly one year ago, Ontario passed legislation that would end the bi-annual changing of the clock, making daylight time permanent in the province. This means that residents will be able to experience more sunlight in the winter evenings, but it would remain dark in the mornings until nearly 9 a.m. in December.
But there was one big catch. The legislation only comes into effect if Quebec and New York agree to do the same.
"We're getting closer," Jeremy Roberts, MPP for Ottawa West – Nepean, told CTV News Toronto on Tuesday. "I don't think I'll be able to get anything done in time for this year's fall back, but maybe in time for Spring-forward next year."
He said he's seeing "promising signs" that Quebec would be open to moving to permanent daylight saving time.
"Premier François Legault was asked about this in a press conference and he said he was open to the idea," Roberts said. "So we're continuing to push on that."
In terms of New York, Roberts said he's having less success with the idea and admits the state will be the biggest barrier to Ontario ending the time change practice.
"We haven't heard from the New York governor," Roberts said. "But we understand there is actually a state senator in New York who has put forward a piece of legislation that would bring New York into permanent daylight saving time."
WHEN DOES DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME END?
The time will change in Ontario at 2 a.m. on Nov. 7, marking the end of daylight saving time and bringing in darker evenings.
When daylight saving ends, the sun will set in Toronto at 4:59 p.m.
Roberts said he had always disliked having to change the clocks twice a year and it leaves him feeling sleepy in the days after.
According to experts, some people will experience a shock to their bodies' internal clock when the time changes, much like the jet lag experienced after flying across time zones.
Research shows that the disruption to the internal clock can cause increased rates of heart attacks, stroke, weight gain, anxiety and contribute to workplace injuries and car accidents.
Roberts added that one of the benefits of ending the twice-yearly change includes promoting more consumerism by giving residents more hours of daylight in the evening.
Daylight saving time started in Ontario in 1918.
On Tuesday, the results of Alberta's referendum on year-round daylight time were released and a tiny majority of Albertans voted against the province adopting it.
Less than 3,000 votes separated the 'yes' and 'no' camps, results released Tuesday morning show. Across the province, 50.2 per cent of voters voted ‘no,’ while 49.8 per cent voted yes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
The pros and cons of discussing mental health issues in the workplace
A group of lawyers has written what they call a groundbreaking book about how mental health is perceived in the legal profession.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
A candidate for Germany's key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left party in next month's election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday.
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.