B.C. gets ready to spring forward, but will it follow in Yukon’s lead to scrap time change?

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – One of Canada’s northern territories is getting ready to change its clocks for the last time.

After Yukoners set their clocks ahead on Sunday, the territory will remain on Pacific Daylight Saving Time. The practice of two seasonal time changes is coming to an end, something many people in B.C. have said they’d like to see happen in this province, too.

“The recent seasonal time change survey drew more than 4,800 responses from Yukon people and organizations, with most in favour of putting an end to the practice,” the Government of Yukon said.

A similar survey was conducted in B.C., with an overwhelming majority of British Columbians — 93 per cent — saying they were in favour of doing away with seasonal time change and remaining on Daylight Saving Time.

For now, British Columbians will spring forward by an hour on Sunday along with a number of jurisdictions, but the question is whether they’ll have to switch back come November.

The group Stop the Time Change in B.C. is hoping Mar. 8 will be the last time people in B.C. will have to change their clocks.

“I’m expecting an announcement from Mr. Horgan,” the group’s Tara Holmes told CityNews Vancouver. “And as much as we would like to see this be the very last time change in history when we spring forward, I’m OK waiting another year, but what I really want from Mr. Horgan is that official announcement. Even if he wants to make it 2021 when we spring forward, that is it.”

The provincial government is armed with legislation that past in the fall, making Daylight Saving Time permanent once enacted. However, B.C. Premier John Horgan has said he wants all west coast governments on both sides of the border to make the switch together before sticking to one time.

“I understand the public’s desire to stop changing clocks,” Horgan said. “But I also want to make sure we do it in a way that’s not a further disruption to our economy and further disruption to our relationships east, west, and to the south.”

Many people CityNews caught up with in Vancouver’s Gastown neighbourhood seemed to be onboard with doing away with time change, with some saying they’re sick of having to do it.