Alberta is about to stop the twice-yearly clock shuffle, but Premier Danielle Smith is urging patience before declaring the experiment a success.
The Alberta government announced this week it will introduce legislation to shift the province to permanent daylight time, eliminating the spring-forward and fall-back ritual that has frustrated Canadians for generations. However, Smith cautioned that Albertans need real-world experience living under the new schedule before passing final judgment.
"People don't really know what it's going to be until they live it," Smith told reporters Wednesday.
The move means Alberta winters will feature significantly darker mornings but noticeably brighter evenings—a trade-off Smith believes most residents will ultimately accept. The premier acknowledged health experts and biologists have raised concerns about standard time's impact on human circadian rhythms, but she's betting that extended evening daylight will win public favour.
"I think on balance they would probably agree with the majority that daylight savings is the way to go," Smith said, adding that if she's miscalculated public sentiment, the government could put the issue to a referendum in 2027.
A Decision Forced by Neighbours
Smith emphasized that the government decided to bypass a public vote—despite a narrow referendum defeat five years ago—largely due to moves by neighbouring provinces. British Columbia recently announced it would adopt permanent daylight time, while Saskatchewan has maintained year-round standard time for decades. The premier suggested Alberta's hand was forced by these regional decisions.
"I think that the decision got foisted upon us," Smith stated.
Timing also played a role in skipping another referendum. The province has already scheduled a vote for October 19 on several constitutional and immigration-related questions, leaving insufficient bandwidth to add daylight time to the ballot.
What's Next?
Albertans should prepare for darker winter mornings once the legislation passes, but Smith expects residents will eventually embrace the change after experiencing a full seasonal cycle. The willingness to hold a 2027 vote if needed suggests the government recognizes this remains a contentious issue for many—even if the premier is confident the province has made the right call.
This article is based on reporting from CBC Edmonton.