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British Columbia to stop seasonal time changes in 2026
British Columbia will abandon the twice-yearly clock adjustment next month, becoming the latest jurisdiction to adopt permanent daylight saving time, Premier David Eby announced on Monday.
Final clock change set for 8 March
The province's last seasonal time shift will occur on 8 March 2026, when clocks move forward one hour. The scheduled return to standard time on 1 November will be canceled, locking British Columbia into year-round daylight saving time.
Rationale and public support
Eby stated that the decision responds to widespread public frustration with the disruptions caused by biannual time changes. A 2019 public consultation revealed that 93% of participants favored permanent daylight saving time, citing health and wellness benefits.
"This decision isn't just about clocks. It's about making life easier for families, reducing disruptions for businesses, and supporting a stable, thriving economy," Eby said in a statement.
Premier David Eby
Regional exceptions and cross-border alignment
A small cluster of communities in eastern British Columbia, which currently observe Mountain Time, will continue to adjust their clocks twice annually. The rest of the province will align with Alberta and other Mountain Standard Time regions from November to March, and with U.S. West Coast states-such as California, Washington, and Oregon-from March to November.
Global trends and health considerations
British Columbia joins a growing number of regions, including much of Asia and Africa, that have abolished seasonal time changes over the past decade. However, the majority of the United States, most of Europe, and parts of Canada, Australia, Latin America, and the Caribbean still observe the practice.
A 2023 analysis by the Pew Research Center found that while half of the world's countries previously adjusted their clocks, only one-third continue to do so today. Health experts and climate advocates increasingly argue against the practice, highlighting its negative effects on well-being and energy use.
How the change works
Under the current system, clocks move forward one hour in the spring to adopt daylight saving time and revert to standard time in the autumn. With the new policy, British Columbia will remain on daylight saving time throughout the year, eliminating the autumn transition.
