B.C. Premier John Horgan said British Columbians can expect the province to address a move to permanent Daylight Savings Time in the fall session of the legislature.
After his final address as premier to the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM), Horgan told reporters discussions have been ongoing with the U.S. states of Washington, Oregon and California.
The stumbling block at the moment, he said, is California. The other states have put tools in place to deal with potentially ending the practice of springing forward and falling back an hour each spring and fall.
Horgan, however, gave few details on how the clocks would change in B.C.
The issue is one that has vexed many in the province for years, with many sleep scientists slamming the government's plans, instead arguing B.C. should move to permanent Standard Time.
The issue has also repeatedly come before the UBCM for debate.
A proposal to stop observing Daylight Saving Time in British Columbia was narrowly approved by UBCM delegates in 2018.
The resolution said Daylight Saving Time and the resulting time changes twice a year no longer serve their purpose and that the clock change affects people’s health. At the time, the resolution was approved 52.3 per cent to 47.7 per cent.
Horgan said the province would continue consulting with other jurisdictions before making any decisions on the issue.
In 2019, a provincial government survey found 93 per cent of British Columbians were tired of the twice-a-year time changes and wanted to move to permanent Daylight Saving Time.
"The people of British Columbia have spoken and their collective voice has come through loudly and clearly," Horgan said at the time. "This engagement has done exactly as we hoped it would in providing clarity about a preferred direction.”
