Some people in Ottawa are hoping Ontario will follow the lead of western provinces and stop changing the clock twice a year between standard and daylight saving time.
Last month, Manitoba became the latest province to stay on daylight time, joining Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.
With Ontario set to turn the clocks back one hour to standard time on Nov. 1 – lasting until spring – several residents told Capital Current that this constant switching is pointless.
Ontario is among the provinces and territories in Eastern Canada that have yet to adopt a permanent standard time (PST). [Image © Theo Manto]
Larry Orr, who runs The Log Farm, an agri-tourism business in Ottawa for over ten years, states, “From the perspective of us farmers, changing the clocks serves no purpose and hasn’t for a long time.”
Marc Just, a farmer from Alexandria, Ont., says he’d “rather not see the time change.”
Just mentions that he and many other farmers work as long as there’s light available regardless of what time it is.
“When it’s dark out I don’t work and when it’s light out I do.”
A survey from Angus Reid Institute in March 2026 found that eighty-four percent of Ontario voters prefer sticking with one consistent time-either standard or daylight saving.
The province passed the Time Amendment Act in November 2020, allowing it to switch to permanent standard time. However, until Quebec and New York State make their changes, Doug Ford’s government has stated Ontario won’t proceed.
Jeremy Roberts, then-Conservative MPP who sponsored the Act, remarked at that time that acting alone without Quebec or American neighbors could cause more issues than benefits. He highlighted how important maintaining commercial advantages with trade networks involving New York was due to shared workforce across the Ottawa River.
According to Statistics Canada, over twenty-six percent of Gatineau residents commute to jobs in Ontario.
Jon Stewart, publisher of The Equity in Shawville, Que., expresses concern about how differing times could create complications for those crossing provincial borders regularly.
“Living in a border community means that there’s a lot that ties us together; having different time zones could result in everything from daycare problems for parents needing schedule adjustments to businesses remaining open later for clients operating under another timezone,” Stewart told Capital Current.
The Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers agrees with this view. They mentioned via email that “our members who live and work in the Capital Region commuting across the Ottawa River may face logistical challenges.” However, PAFSO also pointed out that foreign service workers are used to managing multiple time zones.
Ottawans share their thoughts
Ottawa resident Norma Abourizk finds changing clocks twice each year “unnecessary.”
She points out how darker winter evenings can trigger seasonal depression which keeps people indoors instead of enjoying some sunlight outside.
“If it stays light longer [in the evening], then you spend more time outside,” Abourizk said.
The shifts in timing “throw people out of whack” two times annually according to farmer Marc Just. [Photo © Sara Gross]
Daylight saving first began in Thunder Bay, Ont., back in 1908 aiming at making better use of sunlight according to timeanddate. com.
Germany was actually first country worldwide adopting nationwide daylight saving laws back in 1916 mainly viewed as an effort during wartime aimed at conserving fuel needed for artificial lighting purposes.
Source linkA report from Manitoba’s government indicates some research suggests instances like “spring forward” clock changes might lead upsurges seen concerning heart attacks traffic accidents plus workplace injuries right afterward days following such transitions occurring.
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