BC STORIES

Canada’s Time Crisis: Why British Columbia is Ending the Clock Change While Others Wait for a Domino Effect

British Columbia is ending seasonal time changes permanently, but the rest of Canada remains locked in a collective action dilemma over daylight saving time.

Published

7 months ago

March 3, 2026

Current News Room

The Last ‘Spring Forward’ for British Columbia

As Canadians across the country prepare to nudge their clocks forward one hour this Sunday, residents of British Columbia are doing so with a unique sense of finality. Premier David Eby confirmed this week that the province is moving forward with a long-awaited plan to adopt permanent, year-round daylight saving time. The move marks the end of a decades-long debate in the Pacific province, effectively terminating the biannual ritual of ‘springing forward’ and ‘falling back’ that has governed Canadian life for generations.

The decision is rooted in both public health and overwhelming popular demand. Premier Eby highlighted the practical disruptions caused by the shift, noting that children and pets do not recognize the arbitrary change in time, leading to lost sleep for parents and increased stress for families. “When we change our clocks twice a year, it creates all kinds of problems,” Eby stated during the announcement. Beyond mere inconvenience, the Premier pointed to a spike in car accidents and a general decline in public well-being as primary drivers for the policy shift.

A History of Public Mandate and Political Stalling

British Columbia’s road to permanent daylight time has been long. In 2019, the province conducted one of the most successful public consultations in its history, with a staggering 93 per cent of the 223,000 respondents indicating they wanted to scrap the time change. While former premier John Horgan attempted to implement the change several times, the province initially hesitated, hoping to maintain alignment with southern neighbors in Washington, Oregon, and California.

However, B.C. has now decided to lead the charge. This bold move highlights a growing frustration with what political scientists call a ‘collective action problem.’ Peter Graefe, a political scientist at McMaster University, suggests that many jurisdictions are waiting for a leader to prove that the transition can be seamless. “Maybe it does take one place to move and it will have some impact in having other places saying, ‘Look, the sky didn’t fall, maybe we’ll try it as well,’” Graefe noted.

The Eastern Gridlock: Ontario and Quebec

In Central Canada, the situation is more complex. The Ontario legislature passed a bill in November 2020 that would end the time change, but with a significant caveat: the law only triggers if Quebec and New York State follow suit. This interdependence is driven by the need for economic and logistical synchronization, particularly regarding the stock markets and cross-border trade. Premier Doug Ford has expressed an openness to ending the practice, stating that Ontario will “eventually” stick with daylight saving time to stay in step with the rest of North America, but for now, the province remains in a holding pattern.

Quebec has similarly signaled that while they recognize the public desire to end the time change, no immediate legislative action is planned. Government officials in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Manitoba have also confirmed they are not currently pursuing a change, citing the need for regional alignment to avoid creating a patchwork of time zones that could disrupt travel and commerce.

The Prairie Divide

The debate remains particularly contentious in Alberta. In a 2021 municipal referendum, Albertans narrowly voted to keep the biannual change, with the ‘stay’ side winning by fewer than 3,000 votes. Despite this, the government led by Danielle Smith is re-examining the issue. Finance Minister Nate Horner recently suggested that the conversation is “probably coming towards us” again, as the government weighs the impact on airline schedules and professional sports against the potential health benefits.

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, however, has expressed skepticism about reopening the debate, suggesting that the narrow victory in 2021 should stand as a settled matter so that the government can focus on more pressing economic priorities.

The Biological Cost of Shifting Time

While the political debate focuses on trade and convenience, health experts are sounding the alarm on the biological toll of the time change. Rebecca Robillard, co-chair of the Canadian Sleep Research Consortium, argues that the issue is far more significant than losing a single hour of sleep. “It actually disrupts the alignment between the biological clock and the natural cycle of the sun,” she explained. This misalignment affects hormone release, insulin regulation, and metabolism.

Robillard points to a chilling list of ramifications associated with the time shift, including increased rates of stroke, heart attacks, mood swings, and even pregnancy complications. From a clinical perspective, the sudden shift forces the body into a state of ‘social jetlag’ that can take weeks to resolve.

The Counter-Argument: The Need for Morning Light

Despite the momentum for permanent daylight saving time, some experts warn of the downsides of year-round DST—specifically the loss of morning light in the winter. Patricia Lakin-Thomas, a professor at York University, notes that our circadian clocks are reset by morning light. Under permanent daylight saving time, some parts of Canada would not see the sun rise until nearly 10:00 a.m. in the middle of winter.

“Everybody loves the idea when you first announce it… but in the winter, we just hate it,” Lakin-Thomas warned. She argues that standard time is actually better for human health because it aligns more closely with the solar cycle, providing the morning light necessary to speed up our internal clocks and keep us in sync with the 24-hour day. As British Columbia embarks on this legislative experiment, the rest of the country—and the scientific community—will be watching closely to see if the benefits truly outweigh the costs.

BC STORIES

BC Supreme Court Judge Set to Rule on Sentence Length for Former Gang Member

Defence lawyers recommend 12 to 14 years for Ekene Anigbo for the 2021 Naramata manslaughter of Kathleen Richardson. A judge rules Nov. 2 in Kelowna.

Published

20 hours ago

October 9, 2026

Current Editor

Judicial Decision Expected in November

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Alison Beames is scheduled to deliver a sentencing ruling on Nov. 2 regarding Ekene Anigbo following a two-day hearing in Kelowna.

Defence lawyers for the 27-year-old former gang member have asked the court for a term of 12 to 14 years. Anigbo was convicted of manslaughter on Aug. 14 in connection with the June 9, 2021 death of 57-year-old Kathleen Richardson inside her Naramata residence.

Dispute Over Rehabilitation and Penalty

The recommendation from the defence directly contrasts with the prosecution’s request on Oct. 7 for life imprisonment without parole eligibility for 10 years. Defence counsel argued that the Crown was seeking to artificially inflate the sentence, pointing out that Anigbo has ended his gang ties since 2024 and completed anger management, employability skills, and Indigenous programming at Okanagan Correctional Centre.

If Justice Beames adopts the defence proposal, Anigbo would become eligible to apply for parole after completing one-third of the sentence.

Details of the Fatal Incident

Anigbo was originally tried for first-degree murder, but Justice Beames determined the Crown did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he fired the lethal shots. However, court proceedings established that Anigbo and co-accused Jalen Falk entered the home together armed with at least two handguns to track down Richardson’s son, Wade Cudmore, who was believed by associates to have killed two brothers and stolen cash and drugs.

When they discovered Cudmore was absent, the pair attempted to extract information from Richardson. Evidence showed she resisted, sustaining non-fatal injuries to her hands and arms, before the two men worked together to kill her and fled the scene. Her body was later discovered in her basement by an RCMP officer arriving to caution Cudmore about potential danger.

Related Legal Outcomes

The fatal event was tied to a broader sequence of violent incidents. Cudmore was taken into custody the day after his mother’s body was found and was subsequently convicted of two counts of second-degree murder involving the deaths of brothers Erick and Carlos Fryer.

Meanwhile, Falk entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder for Richardson’s death and received a life sentence in February with no chance of parole for 16 years.

BC STORIES

Loss of Newborn Calf Puts Fresh Focus on Endangered Southern Resident Whales

A critically endangered southern resident killer whale, J31, was seen pushing a dead newborn calf in B.C. waters, raising concerns for the population.

Published

1 day ago

October 9, 2026

Current Editor

Tragic Sight Recorded Off Sombrio Point

Researchers with the Center for Whale Research confirmed that a female southern resident killer whale was seen pushing a dead newborn calf on her nose on Oct. 3 in the Strait of Juan de Fuca near Sombrio Point.

Mark Malleson, a researcher with the Washington-based organization, spotted the 31-year-old orca—identified as J31 or Tsuchi—travelling alongside her immediate family. According to a statement from the group, “It s unclear whether the newborn was a male or female, if it had been carried to full term prior to birth, and if it died after birth or was a stillbirth.”

Reproductive History and Population Pressures

Born in 1995, Tsuchi has a history of reproductive loss, including failed pregnancies and a deceased calf she carried in 2016. Her only surviving offspring is J56, a female named Tofino who was born in 2019.

The loss underscores the deep reproductive challenges confronting the critically endangered population. The Center for Whale Research emphasized that access to large, nutritionally rich Chinook salmon remains one of the primary factors limiting their ability to recover.

“For a population as small as the southern residents, the successful birth and survival of every calf matters,” the organization stated.

Pattern of Loss Across Pods

Tsuchi’s loss recalls similar events documented in the southern resident population, which comprises J, K and L pods. In 2018, J35 (Tahlequah) gained international attention after carrying her dead calf over 1,600 kilometres during a 17-day journey. Tahlequah was seen carrying another dead calf on her head or snout in early 2025. Later that year, 26-year-old J36 (Alki) lost a female calf—marking her fifth documented pregnancy, with only one calf surviving past infancy for under two years.

Recent census data from the Center for Whale Research recorded 74 southern residents, up by one from 73 in 2024. Although two births—K47 in December of last year and L130 in June—raised the total to 76, another calf, L129, is presumed dead after going missing from L-pod in June following observations of poor physical condition.

“The southern resident killer whales remain critically endangered, and their recovery depends not simply on increasing the number of pregnancies, but on creating the conditions in which mothers and calves can survive and thrive,” said the Center for Whale Research.

BC STORIES

Defense Seeks 12 to 14 Years as Judge Weighs Sentence in Naramata Manslaughter Case

Defense lawyers recommend 12 to 14 years for Ekene Anigbo following his manslaughter conviction in the 2021 death of Kathleen Richardson in Naramata.

Published

2 days ago

October 8, 2026

Current Editor

Competing Sentence Recommendations Presented in B.C. Supreme Court

Defense lawyers representing former gang member Ekene Anigbo have asked a court for a prison sentence ranging from 12 to 14 years, arguing that the 27-year-old is making progress toward rehabilitation. Anigbo appeared in B.C. Supreme Court in Kelowna on Oct. 8 for the second day of his sentencing hearing following his Aug. 14 conviction for manslaughter in the death of 57-year-old Kathleen Richardson.

The defense’s proposal stands in contrast to the position of the Crown, which asked on Oct. 7 for a life sentence with no chance of parole for 10 years. Anigbo’s legal team criticized the prosecution’s request, contending that it was an attempt to “artificially inflate” the penalty. If the judge accepts the defense recommendation, Anigbo would become eligible to apply for parole after completing one-third of his term.

Details Surrounding the 2021 Naramata Homicide

The conviction stems from an incident in the early hours of June 9, 2021, when Anigbo and co-accused Jalen Falk entered Richardson’s home in Naramata searching for her son, Wade Cudmore. While Justice Alison Beames ruled that the prosecution did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Anigbo fired the fatal shots, the court determined the two men worked together and killed Richardson, whose body was discovered in her basement later that day.

Court proceedings revealed that the intrusion was linked to a broader conspiracy rooted in the killing of brothers Erick and Carlos Fryer. Anigbo’s associates suspected Cudmore was involved in the brothers’ deaths and had taken drugs and money. Armed with at least two firearms, Anigbo and Falk sought information on Cudmore’s whereabouts from Richardson. Evidence showed Richardson resisted, sustaining non-fatal injuries to her hands and arms before being killed.

Subsequent Legal Outcomes and Upcoming Ruling

An RCMP officer found Richardson’s body while visiting the residence to alert Cudmore that his safety might be at risk. Cudmore was taken into custody the following day for the deaths of the Fryer brothers and was subsequently convicted on two counts of second-degree murder. In February, Falk admitted guilt to second-degree murder in connection with Richardson’s death, receiving a life sentence with parole eligibility set at 16 years.

During his time held at the Okanagan Correctional Centre, Anigbo has taken courses in employability skills, anger management, and Indigenous programs, with court hearing he has maintained no gang ties since 2024. Justice Beames is scheduled to deliver the court’s sentencing decision on Nov. 2.