Daylight saving time (DST) will push the clock back by one hour this fall in most parts of Canada. Whether you love or hate the tradition of springing forward or falling back twice a year, the time will soon change, and your sleep habits will be disrupted for the second time in 2023.
Here’s what you need to know about the end of daylight saving time in Canada in 2023.
What is daylight saving time?
Daylight saving time is the practice of setting the clock one hour ahead of standard time in the spring and one hour back in the fall to maximize natural daylight.
According to the National Research Council of Canada, daylight saving time lasts from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
Daylight saving time has been used in Canada for over a century, starting in 1908.
Despite calls to end daylight saving time or make it permanent each year, and while some provinces have passed laws to stop the switching, these laws won’t take effect until major U.S. states like New York and California make a similar decision.
When does daylight saving time end in 2023?
Daylight saving time ends at 2:00 AM on November 5, 2023. The clock will be set back one hour to 1:00 AM local standard time. This means that sunrise and sunset will occur an hour earlier.
You can expect the sun to rise earlier in the morning and set earlier in the evening when daylight saving time ends. We will continue to lose daylight every day until the winter solstice on December 22, which is when we have the least daylight hours of the year.
Which parts of Canada use daylight saving time?
Most of Canada observes daylight saving time, including all provinces like Alberta, Manitoba, and the Atlantic provinces. Most of Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia also adhere to daylight saving time, although there are some exceptions in certain areas and in the northern territories.
Saskatchewan is the only province that remains on year-round central standard time, although the Lloydminster region follows Alberta’s mountain time.
Is Canada getting rid of daylight saving time?
Some regions of Canada, like Yukon, Saskatchewan, and certain areas in Quebec and British Columbia, have not adjusted their clocks back and may continue to do so in the future.
The decision to observe daylight saving time or not is based on provincial laws, so while some areas in Canada may not participate in this tradition, others still do.
Ontario has been actively trying to end daylight saving time in the province, but without the support of Quebec and New York, the change won’t happen anytime soon.
When does daylight saving time start in 2024?
Daylight saving time will return to most of Canada on Sunday, March 10, 2024. The time will change in the early morning before most people wake up.
