Manitoba scraps daylight saving clock changes after overwhelming public support

Manitoba is ending seasonal clock changes and moving permanently to daylight time, Premier Wab Kinew announced Thursday.

The change means Manitobans will not turn their clocks back one hour on November 1 and will remain on daylight time throughout the year.

The decision follows a provincial survey launched in May that received nearly 72,000 responses.

According to the Manitoba government, 92 percent of respondents supported ending the twice-yearly clock changes.

Among all respondents, 58 percent favoured permanent daylight time, while 34 percent preferred permanent standard time.

Kinew said in the province’s news release that permanent daylight time would benefit health, businesses and families with young children, whose routines and sleep schedules can be disrupted by clock changes.

The province said it is working with businesses, organisations and industry partners to prepare for the transition.

Manitoba joins several other Canadian provinces and territories that have adopted or are moving towards permanent time, including British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories.