B.C. survey shows overwhelming support for permanent Daylight Saving Time
Credit to Author: Cheryl Chan| Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2019 00:16:41 +0000
The 93 per cent of respondents to a provincial government survey who want to switch to permanent Daylight Saving Time is a “staggering number” that shows British Columbians are fed up with the twice-a-year clock changes, says an advocate.
“It sends a really strong message to Premier (John) Horgan and the government that people are ready and willing to make the change,” said Bob Dieno, co-founder of Stop the Time Change in B.C. “With this finding, I think it gives him some real clout to say B.C. wants to do this, so we are on board.”
On Tuesday, the premier’s office released the findings of an online survey, which was conducted from June 24 to July 19. More than 223,000 people responded to the survey — the highest engagement to a public consultation initiative, according to the province.
The survey asked respondents to choose between two options: Maintaining the current system, or moving to year-round Daylight Saving Time (DST). Year-round Pacific Standard Time was not offered as an option.
An overwhelming majority supported a permanent switch to DST, which is currently in effect from March to November. Those who favoured this move said the time change is an outdated practice and that changing clocks is a needless hassle. Health and wellness was also cited as a reason. The desire to keep permanent DST was consistent throughout the province, according to the survey.
Just seven per cent opted to stick with the status quo, which means changing the clocks twice a year.
Sticking to year-round DST means both sunrise and sunset would be one hour later in the winter months. In January, for example, sunrise wouldn’t occur until 9 a.m.
This poses a problem for some outdoor recreational groups.
In a written submission to the province, the Canada West Ski Areas Association said the additional hour of darkness would impact safety of people and wildlife in its industry. Later openings would also be a competitive disadvantage.
British Columbia Golf said the switch would also reduce available playing time by winter golfers.
“When you’re playing winter golf, you have to consider the temperature first thing in the morning,” said CEO Kris Jonasson. “If you get a frost delay or have to wait for it to warm up, then it pushes you back into later in the day, which means you have less time to finish.”
However, if there is to be a change, the group would prefer switching to year-round DST rather than year-round standard time, he said.
The Rabbinical Council of America also sent a written submission to the government saying year-round DST would interfere with the observance of morning prayers in the winter months as sunrise would occur during business hours.
The survey found that about 54 per cent of respondents said it was important or very important for B.C. to do this with other jurisdictions on the west coast.
Washington, Oregon and California are working to adopt permanent DST, but require federal approval from Congress for the change.
Horgan said the results of the survey will be considered alongside decisions by other jurisdictions in Canada and the western U.S.
“We will continue to monitor similar debates in neighbouring jurisdictions, keeping in mind the wide-ranging impacts,” Horgan said in a statement on Tuesday. “We want to make sure we consider every implication in determining what is right for B.C.”
Dieno, whose group has been campaigning for four years to urge B.C. to end the time switch, said he is hopeful the province can move ahead even without the other jurisdictions and lead the way.
The survey findings are a “resounding statement saying let’s get this done,” he said.