{
  "id": 17112318,
  "title": "‘What time is it?’ The answer may not be so simple after this weekend’s time change",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/what-time-is-it-the-answer-may-not-be-so-simple-after-this-weekends",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-29T19:13:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CityNews",
    "slug": "citynews",
    "url": "https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/10/29/weekend-time-change-daylight-saving-time-standard-time/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Sunday, as Canadians awaken, the straightforward query of 'what time is it' might not yield a simple response. Clocks are scheduled to revert one hour at 2 a.m. on November 1, marking the official conclusion of Daylight Saving Time (DST) and granting us an additional hour of rest. However, for some, this will signify the final time the time change occurs. Despite calls to terminate the twice-yearly time adjustment, most of Ontario plans to adjust the clocks back this weekend. Ontario's legislation to permanently adhere to Daylight Saving Time was enacted in 2020, but it required simultaneous action from Quebec and New York State. While the U.S. Senate has yet to act on a House-passed bill to make DST permanent, Quebec's new administration has indicated its intention to eliminate the time change following this weekend. If Quebec proceeds with getting rid of the time change, it would mirror the actions of British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba, which ended the practice this year, as well as the Northwest Territories. Certain regions in the far northwestern part of Ontario are also determined to maintain daylight time year-round in order to align with Manitoba. The time change was not a concern in Saskatchewan since it ceased the practice back in 1966, and the Yukon discontinued moving the clocks in 2020. With the impending winter, Dr. Patricia Lakin-Thomas, a biology professor at York University, anticipates widespread bewilderment. She notes, \"I've got a map on my computer I have to keep checking like, “What time zone are you in?” ' The decision to implement Daylight Saving Time initially emerged during the First World War as a means to conserve energy by maximizing daylight hours. Although the initial objective of energy conservation is less pertinent today, proponents argue that the disruption to sleep patterns and abrupt shift in daylight patterns outweigh any advantages. As Dr. Lakin-Thomas explains, \"It's very, very hard to get up in the dark in the winter mornings… and they're going to feel jet-lagged, it's like being jet-lagged all the time.\" The biological clock requires morning sunlight to reset, and when we have late afternoon light during Daylight Saving Time, it pushes our clocks late, leading to sleep loss and a misaligned body clock. Analysis published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal reviewed multiple studies and determined that health evidence supports moving to permanent standard time due to its alignment with the body's rhythm. With the extra hour of sleep being a welcomed benefit, experts caution that even a one-hour shift can disrupt circadian rhythms, potentially contributing to increased rates of chronic diseases like diabetes, weight gain, cardiovascular issues, and certain types of cancer. Critics argue that politicians have marketed Daylight Saving Time as a feel-good measure, claiming it provides families with an additional hour of evening light, while in reality, it robs us of that hour in the morning. Dr. Lakin-Thomas points out that other regions have faced buyer's remorse after adopting year-round daylight time; Russia abandoned the practice after three years, and the United Kingdom ended it after only two years. During the 1974 energy crisis, the United States implemented year-round Daylight Saving Time, but repealed the measure after just one year. Dr. David Prerau, a leading expert on DST, states that people often focus on the convenience of the clock change without considering the negative aspects of having Daylight Saving Time during winter months. At one point in the post-World War II era, the United States allowed individual cities to choose between Daylight or Standard Time, resulting in chaos when different areas observed different times. Dr. Prerau highlights the confusion caused by the disparity, particularly for businesses and individuals calling across state lines. Scientists specializing in biological clocks and sleep experts are advocating for a national strategy to realign time zones with natural patterns, prioritizing what would be best for the entire country.",
  "summary": "Clocks are set to roll back one hour on Nov. 1, marking the official end of Daylight Saving Time and, giving us an extra hour of sleep. But for some it will be the last time they make the time change.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}