B.C.'s Official Opposition introduces bill to prevent future time changes

Still sleepy from this week's time change?

B.C's Official Opposition hopes to make political hay in the sunshine and has introduced a bill that calls for the immediate end to any future time changes in the province. The catch is getting the government to support it.

"Let's get this implemented," said John Rustad as he rose in the legislature Thursday to introduce his bill: Interpretation (Uniform Pacific Time Zone) Amendment Act. 

"Let's end these time changes in British Columbian for people's health."

Rustad told the house people in the province are done with twice-yearly time changes, citing consequences such as sleep deprivation, health issues, and car accidents.

To drive home the urgency for a change, Rustad's party went further in its argument, saying the change could be part of the "elbows up," Canada-first approach in its trade war with the U.S.

"This premier wants to wait for the U.S. before we make a decision about B.C. for  B.C.," said Ward Stamer, MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson, during question period.

"So, Mr. Speaker, how can the premier claim he is elbows up against becoming the 51st state while allowing the U.S. to dictate how we set our clocks?"

WATCH: CBC News explains how 'elbows up' became a Canadian rallying cry:

Why Canadians are saying ‘Elbows Up’

3 days ago

Duration 1:18

It’s become a rallying cry against U.S. tariffs. But in hockey-loving Canada, the phrase also evokes memories of one of the game's greatest players: Saskatchewan-born Gordie Howe. Known to many as Mr. Hockey, he also earned the nickname Mr. Elbows.

In 2019, more than 223,000 British Columbians voted on whether or not to stop switching clocks, with 93 per cent of participants voting in favour of a move to permanent daylight time. Switching to permanent standard time was not a voting option.

The NDP government passed legislation to make the change, but with no firm timeline. 

Premier David Eby has said the change wouldn't be enacted until B.C.'s American neighbours — including Washington state, Oregon and California — did the same.

In response to an inquiry before the time change on March 9, which questioned waiting on the U.S. due to the ongoing trade war, Eby said he would "ponder" expediting it.

Rustad's motion doesn't appear to have sparked any urgency from the premier, though.

"Trust me, I am as sympathetic as the next guy to kids that have trouble adjusting to time changes or pets or just waking up feeling like you're an hour behind. But in this moment, that is not government's No. 1 priority," he said Thursday.

WATCH: CBC News explains the effects of twice-yearly clock changes:

How the time change in B.C. affects your health

7 days ago

Duration 1:55

While many people are resisting the change to daylight time, CBC reporter Tara Carman found regional differences to staying with one time zone, while SFU psychology professor Myriam Juda says the time change has a big impact on our health.

Rustad said if the government supported his bill, it could be passed "in a day" and then quickly enacted.

The first reading of the Interpretation (Uniform Pacific Time Zone) Amendment Act was passed in the legislature on Thursday and will now go to second reading.

Daylight time for much of the province ends on Nov. 2.