Canada Plans National Time Change Conference

Summary#

This bill orders the federal government to hold a pan-Canadian conference on time change. The aim is to improve cooperation among governments, review evidence on health and economic effects, and discuss a more uniform approach across Canada. Within six months after the conference, the Minister must publish a public report with information and recommendations. The bill does not change clocks, time zones, or daylight saving rules.

• Hold a national conference within 1 year of the law coming into force (Bill s.4(1)).
• Invite provinces, Indigenous governing bodies, and other stakeholders, including municipal representatives and health scientists (Bill s.4(3)).
• Cover economic issues, health, safety, productivity, and the option of a more uniform approach (Bill s.4(2)).
• Publish a report within 6 months after the conference, with information and recommendations (Bill s.5(1)-(2)).
• Allow Cabinet to designate a Minister to run this work (Bill s.3).
• Make no binding changes to time policies; it sets process only (Bill s.4–5).

What it means for you#

• Households

  • No change to when you change your clocks. The bill only sets up a conference and a report (Bill s.4–5).
  • A public report on time change will be posted online within 6 months after the conference. Anyone can read it (Bill s.5(1)).

• Workers

  • No immediate change to work hours or shift timing from this bill (Bill s.4–5).
  • If you work in sectors named in the bill (public safety, agriculture, education, early childhood care, eldercare), your employer groups may be invited to the conference (Bill s.4(3)(c)).

• Businesses

  • No direct regulatory change. Scheduling, transport, and cross-border timing remain the same unless future laws change them (Bill s.4–5).
  • Industry groups may be invited as “relevant stakeholders,” including health scientists and sector representatives (Bill s.4(3)(c)).

• Local governments

  • The Minister must invite representatives from municipal governments to the conference (Bill s.4(3)(c)).
  • Expect requests to share local impacts of time change on services like transit, policing, and schools (Bill s.4(2)–(3)).

• Indigenous governing bodies

  • The Minister must invite Indigenous governing bodies to participate (Bill s.4(3)(b)).
  • You can present community-specific impacts and preferences. The report must reflect information and recommendations from the conference (Bill s.5(2)).

• Provinces and territories

  • The Minister must invite provincial representatives responsible for time matters (Bill s.4(3)(a)).
  • The conference explores a more uniform approach across Canada, but it does not bind provinces to adopt changes (Bill s.4(2)(c)).

• Timeline

  • Conference held within 1 year after the Act comes into force (Bill s.4(1)).
  • Public report posted within 6 months after the conference (Bill s.5(1)).

Expenses#

Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• No explicit appropriation or new fees/taxes in the bill text (Bill s.4–5).
• Administrative mandates:
  • Plan and host a national conference within 1 year (Bill s.4(1)).
  • Prepare and publish a report within 6 months after the conference (Bill s.5(1)).
• Data unavailable on federal departmental costs for organizing the conference and report.

Proponents' View#

• Creates a structured national forum to align provinces, Indigenous governing bodies, and municipalities on time change, which is now handled differently across regions (Bill s.4(1), s.4(3)).
• Centers decisions on evidence by requiring discussion of scientific studies on health, safety, and productivity (Bill s.4(2)(b)).
• Addresses economic coordination by putting “economic issues” on the agenda, including potential impacts on trade, travel, and scheduling (Bill s.4(2)(a)).
• Explores a more uniform approach across Canada without forcing a single solution, allowing jurisdictions to consider options together (Bill s.4(2)(c)).
• Ensures transparency: a public report must summarize information and recommendations from the conference (Bill s.5(1)–(2)).

Opponents' View#

• Non-binding process: the bill requires a conference and a report but does not require any policy changes, so it may not resolve time change differences (Bill s.4–5).
• Participation risk: provinces, Indigenous bodies, and stakeholders are invited but not required to attend; results may be incomplete if key players decline (Bill s.4(3)).
• Limited accountability: recommendations in the report have no enforcement mechanism or timelines for action (Bill s.5(2)).
• Opportunity cost: organizing a national conference and report uses federal resources without clear outcomes or cost estimates; no fiscal analysis is provided (Bill s.4–5; Data unavailable).