Northwestern Ontario to ditch seasonal time change
· Toronto Sun
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Portions of Northwestern Ontario are transitioning to permanent daylight saving time.
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That news came from Queen’s Park early Tuesday afternoon, a move provincial officials say will align portions of the province that set its clocks to the central time zone with Manitoba, which last month opted to permanently keep their clocks on summer time.
“Through the collective efforts of communities and First Nations across the northwest, we’ve led a process to build consensus the right way, with detailed and nuanced considerations,” said Ontario’s Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford in a statement.
“What has emerged is unanimous support across the region to move to permanent daylight saving time, and our government is proud to support the people of northwestern Ontario as we make this decision, together.”
Last month, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced his province would permanently adopt daylight saving time as of Nov. 1.
Rest of Ontario will remain on two-time system
The changes announced Tuesday would see Ontario communities west of the 90th meridian follow suit, and will not turn their clocks back on Nov. 1.
Communities in Ontario’s eastern time zone will, however, continue to change their clocks twice a year.
“Providing certainty and predictability is essential to supporting strong communities and a competitive economy,” said Attorney General Doug Downey in the same statement.
“By keeping this part of the province aligned with Manitoba, our government is taking a practical, common-sense approach to avoid unnecessary disruptions and ensure economic stability in communities that reside in Ontario’s central time zone.”
In Nov. 2020, Ontario passed Bill 214, the Time Amendment Act, which mandates Ontario permanently adopt daylight saving time — but only under certain conditions.
Ontario cannot, as a whole, permanently lock its clocks until the province of Quebec and New York State follow suit.
Under U.S. federal law, individual states can opt out of daylight saving time and remain on standard time all year, but cannot adopt daylight saving time permanently without a specific act of Congress.
This means Ontario will remain on a two-time system unless federal legislation is passed in the United States allowing New York State to make the change.