The Alberta government is expected to take formal steps this week to permanently adopt daylight saving time, ending the tradition of shifting clocks twice a year.
Government sources indicate that the move will be included in an omnibus bill scheduled to be tabled in the Alberta Legislature later this week. However, the legislation must still be voted on in the Legislature before it becomes law.
Premier Danielle Smith has stated in an interview with Postmedia that the spring transition was the final time clocks would be changed. This means clocks would not fall back an hour in the autumn, nor move ahead next spring.
Regional and National Time Alignments
If passed, Alberta would remain on the same time as Saskatchewan year-round. The province would also be one hour later than British Columbia, which made its own switch to permanent daylight saving time on March 8, 2026, via official action.
The shift would create varying offsets with other provinces. Alberta would be on the same time as Manitoba in the winter, but one hour behind during the summer.
Much of Ontario and Quebec would be one hour ahead in the winter and two hours ahead in the summer. Most Atlantic provinces would be two hours behind in winter and three hours back in the summer.
Historical Context and Public Opinion
The current proposal follows a period of significant public and political debate. Five years ago, Albertans voted in a province-wide referendum to reject permanent daylight saving time by a narrow margin of 50.2 per cent to 49.8 per cent.
Despite that result, historical data shows strong support in other eras. A 1991 provincial government survey indicated that 91 per cent of surveyed Albertans favored the permanent switch.
Political efforts to change the system have been recurring. In 2017, the former NDP government explored removing daylight saving time but ultimately scrapped the plan due to concerns regarding NHL game start times and airline schedules.
Global Trends and Potential Shifts
Alberta’s move reflects a broader global trend toward simplifying timekeeping. According to the Pew Research Center, only about one-third of the world’s countries observe daylight saving time, with the majority of those located in Europe.
Future alignments could shift further if other provinces follow suit. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has recently mused about the possibility of moving to a single clock year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the legislation be introduced?
The move to permanent daylight saving time is expected to be part of an omnibus bill tabled in the Alberta Legislature later this week.
Will clocks change this coming November?
According to Premier Danielle Smith, the clocks will not fall back an hour in the fall, provided the legislation is finalized.
Why did the 2017 attempt to end daylight saving time fail?
The former NDP government did not proceed with the change in part due to concerns about the impact on airline schedules and the starting times for NHL games.
Do you believe permanent daylight saving time is a practical solution for modern scheduling?